Supreme Court Decision - Statement

NDNA is the only professional organization representing all nurses in North Dakota.  As we represent all nurses, we want to ensure that we do communicate as best we can when there are issues affecting the nurses and the public. That is part of our mission. We are sharing ANA’s Statement on the recent ruling – see below.  Abortion is a very personal issue.  NDNA respects the individual human and personal side of nurses as well as their professional stances.

ANA’s Statement on the US Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Roe vs. Wade:  https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2022-news-releases/us-supreme-courts-decision-to-overturn-roe-vs.-wade----is-a-serious-setback-for-reproductive-health-and-human-rights/

From the statement: "Nurses have an ethical obligation to safeguard the right to privacy for individuals, families, and communities, allowing for decision making that is based on full information without coercion. As the largest group of health care professionals, nurses have for decades assisted their patients with weighing the benefits, burdens, and available options, including the choice of no treatment, when discussing sexual health issues and pregnancy. ANA firmly believes that no nurse should be subject to punitive or judicial processes for upholding their ethical obligations to their patients and profession."

"ANA is deeply disappointed in the decision to upend Roe v. Wade, which we view as a legal protection of basic reproductive health rights and human rights", said ANA Enterprise CEO Loressa Cole, DNP, MBA, RN, FAAN, NEA-BC.

Dr. Cole also stated, "no matter their philosophical differences or belief systems, all nurses must strive to remain consummate health care professionals and display empathy and respect to all…this is a complicated issue and deeply personal for all, including nurses.  Nurses, leaders, all health care professionals, and the public must engage on this issue with empathy and respect."

The ANA Code of Ethics stipulates “ethics, human rights, and nursing converge as a formidable instrument for social justice and health diplomacy.”