History

• The code was developed by the ANA board of directors and the Congress on Nursing Practice in 1995, according to the ANA website. The code as it is today is based on the 1985 "Code for Nurses."
  
  

Implementation

• In 1996, the Code of Ethics Project Task Force was put into place to seek input from professional nurses and revise the code. Over several years other nursing groups and branches of the ANA made further revisions. In 2001, the revised code was approved, according to the ANA.
  
  

Responsibility

• The code covers nurses' responsibilities toward clients' rights and to work toward improving the practice of nursing, according to Howard University College of Medicine.
  
  

Legality

• Nurses are required to protect clients and the public where ethical, practical and legal matters are concerned, according to Howard University. They should protect the public from misinformation and misrepresentation where nursing is concerned.
  
  

Knowledge

• Nurses should strive to further their knowledge in their field and work with other nurses to further improve the standards of nursing, according to Howard University.
  
  

Quality

• The code mandates that nurses are competent and qualified, execute good judgment and maintain the highest standards of quality nursing care, according to Howard University.