New codes of ethics in effect for nurses and midwives

01 Mar 2018

International codes of ethics are now in effect for Australian nurses and midwives.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of ethics for nurses and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Code of ethics for midwives took effect as the guiding documents for ethical decision-making for nurses and midwives in Australia on 1 March 2018.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), Australian College of Midwives (ACM), Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) agreed to jointly adopt the ICN and ICM codes of ethics.

‘Referring nurses and midwives to the existing international publications is a natural progression as the ICN and ICM ethics documents are recognised globally and are contextually relevant for all nurses and midwives in Australia,’ Associate Professor Lynette Cusack, Chair of the NMBA, said.

The new codes of ethics can be accessed on from the professional standards section of the NMBA website.

For more information on the research behind the change, please see the news item.