Code of conduct

• The Code of conduct for nurses sets out the legal requirements, professional behaviour and conduct expectations for all nurses, in all practice settings, in Australia. It describes the principles of professional behaviour that guide safe practice, and clearly outlines the conduct expected of nurses by their colleagues and the broader community.
• Code of conduct:

  Domain: Practise legally

  Domain: Practise safely, effectively and collaboratively

  Domain: Act with professional integrity

  Domain: Promote health and wellbeing
• Domain: Practise legally

  Principle 1: Legal compliance: Nurses respect and adhere to their professional obligations under the National Law and abide by relevant laws.
• Principle 2: Person-centred practice


  Nurses provide safe, person-centred and evidence-based practice for the health and wellbeing of people and, in partnership with the person, promote shared decision-making and care delivery between the person, nominated partners, family, friends and health professionals
• Principle 3: Cultural practice and respectful relationships

  Nurses engage with people as individuals in a culturally safe and respectful way, foster open and honest professional relationships, and adhere to their obligations about privacy and confidentiality
• Principle 4: Professional behaviour: Nurses embody integrity, honesty, respect and compassion. 
• Principle 5: Teaching, supervising and assessing: Nurses commit to teaching, supervising and assessing students and other nurses, in order to develop the nursing workforce across all contexts of practice.
• Principle 6: Research in health: Nurses recognise the vital role of research to inform quality healthcare and policy development, conduct research ethically and support the decision-making of people who participate in research.
• Principle 7: Health and wellbeing: Nurses promote health and wellbeing for people and their families, colleagues, the broader community and themselves and in a way that addresses health inequality.