Is there a Unique Nursing Ethic?

There is no agreement in the nursing literature as to the meaning of the term, nursing ethics. Proposed definitions refer to nurses' moral decision-making and behaviors, ethical conflicts, and analysis of ethical issues that arise within nurses' practice. Presumably, a distinct nursing ethic should address unique theories, standards, and inquiry into what comprises nurses' ethical behavior and study of how nurses actually behave and reason about ethical issues. The purpose of this column is to synthesize the dialogue regarding the potential existence of a unique nursing ethic, and to propose that such an ethic has yet to emerge.