The role of conscience in nursing practice

Professional and ethical codes and standards mandate nursing care that is safe and effective while being responsive to individual and community needs and cultural beliefs and practices (International Council of Nurses, 2012). Care is also guided by nurses’ own individual characteristics, including their critical thinking skills, values, and worldviews. Within this mix of influences, conscience may be a particularly important factor, although we may not always be cognizant of this. This column explores the role of conscience in nursing practice, highlighting its importance and some of the challenges involved in ensuring it positively influences stakeholder experiences and outcomes.