Purpose of what?

-Provide standard by which to judge professional behavior

-Implicit contract between profession and society

-Inspire members of the profession 

-A statement of ethical obligations of every professional nurse

-A non-negotiable ethical standard of the profession

-An expression of nursing's understanding of its commitment to society 

-Respect for the inherent dignity of the patient is identified as the basis of nursing practice.

-Nurse's primary commitment to the patient is clearly stated.

-Enumerates the scope of obligations of the professional nurse including such areas as delegation, work for social change and the promotion of scholarship. 

How many provisions to the code?

-Fundamental values and commitments of the professional nurse

-Address the boundaries of duty and loyalty

-Consider aspects of duty beyond the individual nurse-patient contact