In carrying out his/her duty to patients, the nurse operates within the ethical rules governing the profession and his/her career scope of practice.

The confirmation of the rights of the nurse is therefore not an end in itself, but a means of ensuring improved service to patients.  To enable the nurse to provide safe, adequate nursing, he/she has the right to:

1. practise in accordance with the scope which is legally permissible for his/her specific practice;
2. a safe working environment which is compatible with efficient patient care and which is equipped with at least the minimum physical, material and personnel requirements;
3. proper orientation and goal-directed in-service education in respect of the modes and methods of treatment and procedures relevant to his/her working situation;
4. negotiation with the employer for such continuing professional education as may be directly or indirectly related to his/her responsibilities;
5. in the case of a registered person, equal and full participation in such policy determination, planning and decision-making as may concern the treatment and care of the patient;
6. advocacy for and protection of patients and personnel for whom he/she has accepted responsibility;
7. conscientious objection, provided that:
   – the employer has been timeously informed in writing
   – it does not interfere with the safety of the patient and/or interrupt his/her treatment and nursing;
8. the employer has been timeously informed in writing
9. it does not interfere with the safety of the patient and/or interrupt his/her treatment and nursing;
10. the employer has been timeously informed in writing
11. it does not interfere with the safety of the patient and/or interrupt his/her treatment and nursing;
12. refuse to carry out a task reasonably regarded as outside the scope of his/her practice and for which he/she has insufficient training or for which he/she has insufficient knowledge or skill;
13. not to participate in unethical or incompetent practice;
14. written policy guidelines and prescriptions concerning the management of his/her working environment;
15. refuse to implement a prescription or to participate in activities which, according to his/her professional knowledge and judgement, are not in the interest of the patient;
16. have disclosed to him/her the diagnosis of patients for whom he/she accepts responsibility;
17. a working environment which is free of threats, intimidation and/or interference;
18. a medical support or referral system to handle emergency situations responsibly.