Professional associations, ethics, and society

This article examines the role of professional associations, with particular reference to the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), in relation to professional ethics. Also explored are the relationship between power structures and meaning and value structures, the relationship between the ideal of a profession and the reality of clinical practice, and the three functions of social ethics. Aspects of professional associations, ethics, and society are examined in terms of their reflection in the current ethical standards outlined by ONS in order to provide recommendations for future directions in ethics standards and oncology nursing practice.