American Nurses Association Publishes Fifth Edition of Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice
New edition elevates innovation and ethical use of artificial intelligence as essential to future-ready nursing practice
SILVER SPRING, Md. — The American Nurses Association (ANA) has published the fifth edition of its seminal text: Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice. The Scope and Standards represent a foundational resource that defines the scope, standards, and professional responsibilities of nurses across all roles and settings.
The fifth edition reflects the evolving realities of healthcare while reaffirming nursing’s core ethical commitments to accountability, advocacy, equity, safety, human dignity, and person-centered care.
“As healthcare changes, ANA continues to guide the nursing profession with clarity, purpose, and integrity through this fifth edition of the Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice,” said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, president of the American Nurses Association. “This new edition affirms that nurses are not passive recipients of change: they are essential leaders in shaping it. Whether advancing innovation, being the trusted voice providing bedside care, or evaluating evolving technology and its impact on patients, nurses must be confident in their clinical judgment, role on the healthcare team, and focused on safer, more equitable care for stronger and healthier communities.”
The new edition formally embeds innovation into professional nursing practice, positioning it as a foundational component of contemporary nursing leadership and responsibility. It also recognizes the growing role of artificial intelligence in the nursing practice environment and provides guidance for evaluating emerging technologies through an ethical lens.
The updated scope and standards also emphasize human-centered innovation as a professional responsibility. New innovation content includes a shared definition, framework, case studies, and practical actions that nurses, organizations, and society can take to support collaborative changes and improve experiences for those receiving and providing care.
The fifth edition serves as a key reference for nurses, educators, employers, policymakers, and healthcare leaders seeking to understand the profession’s responsibilities in a rapidly changing environment.
Find the Fifth Edition here on nursingworld.org