What the Code of Ethics means to me: Allison Bridgewater
The Code of Ethics wasn’t meant to sit on a shelf. It was meant to be a guide for nurses in their daily practice, whether as a nursing student, a staff nurse, an educator or a nurse administrator. So, we asked you, our members, for some of your perspectives on and how it applies to you and your profession. Here are some of the answers we got back.
The power of one nurse speaking to one legislator
Although I am not employed as a nurse yet, I always try my best to abide by the “Code of Ethics” when volunteering. As a new graduate RN, the Code has been taught to me in many classes throughout my ADN program as well as the RN to BSN program I am currently attending.
Last year, I attended the WSNA Nurse Legislative Day. At first I felt small and like I wouldn’t make a difference among the thousands of nurses there. However, once we broke off into our specific regions that we lived in to speak with policymakers, I was only one of three people there going to talk to my local legislators. This experience taught me the value of being present at events like this. I learned that one person speaking to one policymaker and sharing one story relating to a bill can possibly make a huge difference.