Teaching ethics to nursing students

Ethical practice is the responsibility of all nurses. But if they are to understand the principles of ethics and carry them out in their work, nursing curricula must incorporate ethics into course content. Such content requires faculty who understand both ethical theories and their application to nursing. Appropriate methods of evaluating student learning are also needed. The growing complexity of our health care system demands that nurses assume increasing responsibility for ethical decision making. We can no longer ignore the link between ethics and nursing. Ethics education for nurses is mandatory, not elective.