b’Accountability is defined as the concept of being responsible for onexc2x92s actions. This means being accountable for our work practice, environment and patient safety. The American Nursing Association’

b’nAccountability is defined as the concept of being responsible for onexe2x80x99s actions. This means being accountable for our work practice, environment and patient safety. The American Nursing Associationxe2x80x99s (ANA) code of Ethics defines professional accountability as being xe2x80x9canswerable to oneself and others for onexe2x80x99s actions.xe2x80x9d In 2016 the Gallup poll rated Nursing as one of the most trusted profession in the United States for 15 consecutive years. It is of vital importance that we maintain this level of trust with each patient encounter. As nurses our patientxe2x80x99s healthcare depend on the decisions and actions we make. Sometimes our actions make a difference between life and death. As nurses we face daily time challenges as well as work demands. We often have to deal with staff shortages and the acuity of our patients. Even with all these road blocks, it is our responsibility to maintain certain ethical standards in order to obtain better outcomes. The ANA code of Ethics for Nurses was developed as a guide for carrying out nursing responsibilities in a manner consistent with quality in nursing care and the ethical obligations of the profession. It was created to help nurses xe2x80x9cnavigate ethical and value conflicts, and life and death decisions, many of which are common to everyday practicexe2x80x9d (Ethics and Human Rights, 2018). It states that, xe2x80x9cthe nurse is responsible and accountable for nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation tasks consistent with the nursexe2x80x99s obligation to provide optimum patent carexe2x80x9d (Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements, 2010) ‘