NURSING MISSISSIPPI STATE ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATE Adopted Oct. 31, 1917: CODE OF ETHICS ARTICLE I. LOYALTY SEC. 1. There is no profession from the members of which greater purity of character, and a higher standard of moral excellence are required, than that of nursing; and everyone who has entered the profession has incurred an obligation to maintain its dignity and honor. SEC. 2. A nurse can best do honor to her Association by her personal conduct, and by the high character of her professional work. When a nurse becomes a member of this Association, she tacitly admits that she owes it her allegiance. Every member of the Association should feel it her duty to further its interests, not only by attendance at the meetings when at all possible, and by the payment of dues, but also by giving her hearty support to all work for the elevation and advancement of the Association, and the profession, and by interesting the public in such work in all legitimate ways. ARTICLE II. DUTIES TO PHYSICIANS SEC. 1. A nurse should be loyal to the physician, and under no circumstances should she criticise his personal conduct or professional skill. ARTICLE III. DUTIES TO OTHER NURSES SEC. 1. A nurse should avoid unkind criticism of other nurses, especially to physicians and patients; and should be just and generous to all worthy members of the profession, aiding them whenever it shall be in her power so to do. By timely and tactful explanations, and just defense, she may often check misunderstandings, and avoid having undeserved blame attributed to a fellow-nurse by physician or patient or others. SEC. 2. The unity and dignity of the nursing profession demand that the nurses from one school should cultivate a courteous recognition of other schools, their work and their gradu ates. SEC. 1. Every person committed to the care of a nurse, should be treated faithfully, and kindly. Reasonable indulgence should be granted to mental imbecility, and caprices of the sick. SEC. 2. Secrecy and confidential intercourse to which nurses are admitted should be used with discretion and honor. The obligation of secrecy exists beyond the period of professional service. None of the privacies of personal or domestic life; no infirmity of disposition, or flaw of character observed during professional service should ever be divulged by the nurse. The same strict observance should be carried out regarding a patient's ail ments. ARTICLE V. DUTIES TO THE PUBLIC SEC. 1. A nurse as a good citizen, should do all in her power to improve the hygienic conditions of the community in which she resides. This may be done by giving some time to the care and instruction of the sick poor, during leisure hours; giving talks on health requirements to "Mothers' Clubs," or other organizations at their requests; and by tactful suggestions to patients or members of their families. SEC. 1. Engagements, whether written or verbal, should always be regarded as contracts, only to be broken when entirely unavoidable, or for the maintenence of self-respect. SEC. 2. When a nurse is called on an urgent case because the nurse previously engaged is not at hand, she ought, unless her assistance be desired, to resign the patient to the latter upon her arrival. SEC. 3. When a nurse is called to relieve another nurse she ought to relinquish the case when the services of two nurses are no longer required. THIRD DISTRICT OF MISSOURI STATE NURSES' St. Louis. Adopted 1918; revised 1922: CODE OF ETHICS All nurses should be imbued with the greatness of their mission and consider it their duty to elevate their profession and by all honorable means to advance it. ARTICLE I-LOYALTY Section 1. It is the duty of every nurse to be loyal to her Alma Mater. She can best show her loyalty by her personal conduct and the character of her professional work. Sec. 2. Every member of the District Association should feel it a duty to further the interests of the society, not only by her attendance and the payment of dues but by her support of the work proposed by it. Sec. 3. A nurse should always avoid unkind criticisms of other nurses. Sec. 4. The unity and dignity of the nursing profession demand that the members of Alumnae Association should be courteous to those of other Alumnae Associations and those members from other Districts and States who practice in our District. ARTICLE II-ENGAGEMENTS Section 1. All engagements should be regarded as legal contracts, only to be broken unavoidably. Sec. 2. A nurse who is engaged for an obstetrical case and subject to call (but not under salary) must not leave the case she is with till the day or night is terminated, should the call come earlier than she expected. Sec. 3. When a nurse is unable to keep her engagement or is incapacitated for duty by illness, the nurse filling the emergency should, subject to the consent of the patient, immediately resign upon the return of the first engaged nurse. ARTICLE III-DUTIES OF NURSE TO PATIENT Section 1. The nurse should combine gentleness, firmness, and tact in the treatment of her patient, granting reasonable indulgence to the caprice of the sick. Sec. 2. The confidential intercourse to which the nurse is admitted should be regarded with honor and fidelity. The same strict observance should be carried out regarding the patient's ailments, the practice of domestic and personal life, and infirmity of disposition. ARTICLE V-DUTIES TO PUBLIC Section 1. It is the duty of the Graduate Nurse to enlighten the public in all matters pertaining to hygiene and sanitation. ARTICLE VI-DUTIES TO PHYSICIANS It is one of the most important duties of the nurse that she be unfailing in her loyalty to the physician in charge, and feel it obligatory that his orders be faithfully carried out, without criticism of his deportment or skill. Relation of the Public to the Directory The value of the Directory to the public depends chiefly upon the quickness with which it can meet the demands made upon it; and this can be secured only by the accuracy and promptness of its information. Anyone telephoning to the Directory is requested to give the physician's name, patient's name and address, and nature of case, before names of nurses on call can be given. Relations of the Directory to the Nurse 1. When a nurse reports for duty, her name is placed on call immediately. 3. 2. Personal calls will always be given precedence. When a graduate of a certain hospital is desired the first nurse of that particular hospital is called. 4. When a call is received for a nurse, if the case be such as the nurse first on call is registered for, that nurse is sent. 5. No nurse will be asked to take anything for which she is not registered. 6. The Directory is not responsible for the salary of any nurse who fails to collect same from patient. hausted. Relations of Nurse to the Directory 1. Dues are $10.00 payable in advance, annually. 3. Any nurse desiring to sever her connection with the Directory, is required to write her resignation and send it to the Directress. 4. Each nurse will be held responsible for dues as long as her name remains on the Directory. 5. If, after a nurse has registered, she has occasion to be out of reach of the Directory for more than two hours, she must notify the Directress. If she is out for less than two hours, she shall be sent to the case on her return if possible. 6. Change of residence, sudden illness, temporary ab sence from home, or any other cause which will prevent the prompt acceptance of an engagement, must be reported to Di rectress. 7. An engagement tendered through the Directory must be accepted if the case be such for which the nurse is registered. Illness so sudden as not yet to have been reported is the only valid excuse. 8. Refusal. The Directress shall place the name of any nurse at the bottom of list for refusing a call. 9. A nurse accepting a case outside the Directory shall immediately notify the Directress. 10. Nurses returning from a case lasting forty-eight hours or less shall retain their original place on the list, provided her return is reported within twenty-four hours. 11. Members doing private nursing are expected to provide themselves with telephone address. All fees, telegrams and messenger service must be paid by the nurse who obtains the engagement. Members are requested to use the Directory phone numbers for business purposes. 12. The Directory Board advises the nurses while on duty to wear their complete uniform and not to wear it on the street, as it is unsanitary and detracts from the dignity of the profession. Relations Between Nurses and Patient 1. Agreement for charges for special cases are to be made before beginning case. 2. For out of town cases traveling expenses to be paid and salary to begin from time the nurse leaves her home until she returns to her home after terminating engagement. 3. When the order for the nurse is cancelled after her arrival at the house, she is entitled to one day's pay. 4. The nurse is expected to be allowed four hours each day for recreation, and at least six consecutive hours of sleep in each twenty-four hours. SPECIAL RULES Governing Nurses Who Have Had the Care of Contagious Diseases After caring for a contagious disease, a nurse will not be eligible for registration at this Directory until she has been thoroughly disinfected. Such disinfection shall consist in taking a full germicidal bath, with shampoo of the hair, followed by |