Densford Center hosts Celebration of the Nursing Code of Ethics

The Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership hosted the Celebration of the Nursing Code of Ethics on Oct. 30, with a discussion of the newly updated American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses and how it shapes nursing today.

Martha Turner, PhD, RN, FAAN, served as co-chair of the 2025 Code of Ethics for Nurses revision, coordinating the writing efforts with more than 40 nurses throughout the country. She described the reiterative 18-month process of updating the Code of Ethics for Nurses, which included meetings with expert panels, ANA staff and public comment. 

“It was our intent from the 2015 version to keep what’s current and change only what’s necessary, as the code has withstood challenges of time,” said Turner. “It didn’t need a lot of work, but it did need some in specific areas.”

The code now addresses challenges such as health disparities, racism, and the need for self-care, and it added a 10^th provision, which details nurses’ role in a global community.

Shika Kalevor, MBE, BSN, RN, a NICU nurse turned bioethics leader at Children’s Minnesota who served on an expert panel for the ANA revision, delivered the keynote. She explored the intersection of ethics, health equity, and racial bias in medicine. 

“The Code is the root that grounds and connects us all to a common goal and purpose,” said Kalevor, in metaphor about nursing and trees. “There is so much rich and deep knowledge within the Code.”

Kalevor discussed how ethics influence everyday actions and shared examples of applying the 2025 Code of Ethics for Nurses.

Associate Professor Robin Austin, PhD, DNP, DC, RN, NI-BC, FAMIA, FAAN, discussed combating health misinformation and disinformation and the Code of Ethics.

Ian Wolfe, PhD, MA, RN, HEC-C, director of Ethics at Children’s Minnesota, discussed gender-affirming care and the code. 

Professor Jenna Marquard, PhD, FACMI, discussed how the ethical use of artificial intelligence intersects with the Code of Ethics.

Clinical Professor Teddie Potter, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP, discussed planetary health, with emphasis of the new 10^th provision. “Provision 10.5 is the very first time that planetary health is mentioned in the Code of Ethics. This is huge. This is exciting,” said Potter. “Nurses who are knowledgeable in this space are called into various forms of activism around this.”

Watch the ceremony