Which statement reflects the ethical foundation guiding nurse coaching practice?

• A. Uses the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2015) and the Position Statement on Holistic Nursing Ethics (AHNA, 2012).
• B. Ethics are optional in coaching.
• C. Principles of holistic, human caring are not relevant.
• D. Coaching ethics require only client consent.

Answer: (A)

Ethical grounding in nurse coaching comes from professional standards that shape how care is delivered, protect clients, and guide the coaching relationship. The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2015) outlines the fundamental duties and moral obligations of nursing practice—respect for patient autonomy, confidentiality, advocacy, and accountability—across all nursing activities. The Position Statement on Holistic Nursing Ethics (AHNA, 2012) adds a complementary perspective by grounding ethics in holistic care, emphasizing the person as a whole and the caring, relational, and contextually aware nature of the nursing bond. Together, they provide a robust framework that directs how coaching conversations are conducted, ensuring respect, integrity, and alignment with professional responsibilities while honoring the client’s holistic well-being.

This combination is the best because it links the general nursing ethics with a holistic care approach that is central to nurse coaching, ensuring that practices are not merely skill-based but ethically sound and person-centered. Ethics in coaching aren’t optional or limited to obtaining consent; they require ongoing attention to confidentiality, boundaries, informed consent, beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and professional integrity.