Practice Spotlight: The Importance of Professional Integrity in Registered Nursing

Professional integrity is foundational to the practice of registered nursing. It is the cornerstone of public trust and professional accountability, shaping how nurses interact with clients, colleagues, and regulatory bodies. At its core, professional integrity means consistently acting with honesty, responsibility, and ethical awareness—even when no one is watching.

This year’s jurisprudence module topic is on the Code of Ethical Conduct. The Code of Ethical Conduct and Practice Expectations for Registered Nurses emphasize that all registrants must act with integrity, demonstrate accountability, and uphold public confidence in the nursing profession. This is especially critical in practice areas where oversight is less direct and the nurse holds greater responsibility for ensuring their practice aligns with regulatory requirements.

Example: Integrity in Action

Amara, a registered nurse in a hospital, was approached by a colleague who observed a discrepancy in a medication administration record. Although the error she made was minor and might have gone unnoticed, Amara took immediate steps to review the chart, spoke with her unit educator, and completed a patient safety event report. She also disclosed the error to the client and discussed it with the team during rounds to prevent recurrence. Amara’s actions demonstrate professional integrity—she prioritized client safety, accountability, and transparency, even when it meant acknowledging a mistake.

This example aligns directly with CRNM’s expectation that nurses take responsibility for their actions and demonstrate honesty in all professional interactions. By upholding professional integrity, Amara protected her client, supported her team, and reinforced the values of the profession.

Example: When Integrity Falls Short

Jordan, a registered nurse, began offering self-employed nursing consulting services immediately after passing the NCLEX. Although he was aware of the requirement to meet a 2,015 practice hour threshold to engage in self-employed practice, he proceeded to advertise his nursing consultation services on social media without notifying the College. Jordan did not meet the practice expectations for self-employed practice and is therefore not authorized to practice independently.

This situation shows that Jordan is falling short of meeting the expectations of professional integrity and accountability. By practicing outside of regulatory requirements, Jordan not only placed clients at risk but also jeopardized public trust in the nursing profession. CRNM’s Practice Direction: Self-Employed Practice outlines the minimum practice hour requirement to ensure registrants possess the competence and experience necessary to practice safely. Failing to adhere to these expectations may be perceived as misleading and unethical.

Why It Matters

When registered nurses act with integrity, they promote safer care environments, uphold the public’s trust, and maintain the credibility of the profession. Conversely, lapses in integrity—even if well-intentioned—can cause reputational damage, lead to professional conduct reporting, and, most importantly, risk harm to clients who depend on nurses for ethical and competent care.

CRNM’s Code of Ethical Conduct reminds registrants to:

• be truthful in their professional practice.
• understand and practice in compliance with relevant laws, employer policies, practice directions, and practice expectations.
• be accountable for their own decisions, actions, omissions and related outcomes.
• take accountability for their errors and learn from them.

Acting with professional integrity means not only meeting clinical expectations but also honouring the ethical and regulatory frameworks that support safe and ethical care.

Whether in a team setting or practicing independently, integrity guides decision-making, protects clients, and strengthens the nursing profession as a whole.