Nursing is defined as “encompassing the protection, promotion, and restoration of health and well-being; the prevention of illness and injury; and the alleviation of suffering, in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations” (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2015, pVII). It is the essence of our title to protect, promote and restore health and well-being.

How effective are we at doing this for others if we don’t also prioritize the protection, promotion, and restoration of our own health and well-being?

The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements is a non-negotiable, ethical standard for all nurses in the United States of America. The code goes on to establish provision 5, the focus on our own health and well-being. Provision 5 states: “the nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to promote health and safety, preserve wholeness of character and integrity, maintain competence, and continue personal and professional growth” (ANA, 2015, p19).

Nurses prioritizing and achieving their own optimal health and well-being is an act of compassion that permeates across everyone they encounter.

Nurses touch the lives of thousands of humans. This does not go unnoticed. The public has ranked the nursing profession as the profession with the highest honesty and ethical standards for 19 years-in-a-row (Saad, 2020). To continue building our legacy as the nation’s most trusted profession, it is imperative that we focus on the resiliency, well-being, and mental health of ourselves through holistic self-care focused on promotion and prevention of illness.

This is why AAHFN’s Embrace Heart Failure Prevention campaign was designed and needs YOU!

Heart Failure prevention starts with YOU! AAHFN has designed and developed a year-long series of education, tools, and resources for nurses and all health care providers. Now it is your turn to get engaged, get informed, and get started!

Coming Soon! Passport to Prevention!

AAHFN is currently developing a comprehensive Passport to Prevention that will launch in June 2020 and provide a roadmap to individual and group prevention for nurses and health care providers. The Passport to Prevention culminates in improved self-awareness, health promotion, and exciting prizes for participants!

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretative statements. Silver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org.

Saad, L. (2020). U.S. ethics ratings rise for medical workers and teachers. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/328136/ethics-ratings-rise-medical-workers-teachers.aspx

Table of Additional Resources

• American Holistic Nurses Association
  • Self-Care & Resilience
    
  • Stress Management Strategies
• Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses Association
  
  • Heart Healthy Toolbox
    
• Nurses.com
  
  • Easy Self-Care Tips for Nurses
    
• American Psychiatric Nurses Association
  
  • Self-Care Tip Sheet