Individual Analysis PaperAs nurses, we serve a very culturally diverse society. We provide care to many people who have their own set of ethics, values, morals and beliefs that may be very different from ours. Because of our professional role, we must use lifelong learning as a tool to broaden our perspectives, increase our knowledge and understand the influences that affect them. To make this possible, we must continually educate ourselves about the nursing laws, professional standards and code of ethics to which we are committed. American Nurses Association The American Nurses Association (ANA) has developed a foundation for which all nurses are expected to perform their fundamental functions to meet the needs of the society we serve. The ANA “has long been instrumental in developing three foundational documents for professional nursing; its code of ethics, scope and standards of practice, and its social policy statement. (ANA, 2010, p. 87) The ANA has defined nursing as “the protection, promotion and optimization of health and abilities, the prevention of illness and injury, the relief of suffering through diagnosis and treatment of human response, and promotion of care. individuals, families, communities and populations” and used to create the scope and standards of nursing practice. (ANA, 2010, p. 1) These “describe the steps nurses should take to meet the health care needs of clients.” () The nursing process, for example, is one of the things I use daily. Other examples include communicating and collaborating with my patient, their families, and peers, and being a lifelong learner. I continually research new diagnostics, medications, and treatments for my patients. As a ...... middle of paper ......ated nurse. (Burkhardt and Nathaniel, 2014, p. 24)ReferencesAmerican Nurses Association (2010). Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (2nd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association. Burkhardt, MA and Nathaniel, AK (2014). Ethics and issues in contemporary nursing (4th ed.). Stephan Helbra. Cowell, J.M. (2010). Standards of practice: Questions for school nursing. The Journal of School Nursing, 26(6). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.library.ohiou.edu/docview/807964990accountid=12954Di Leonardi, British Columbia (2005). Lifelong learning. Advancing Health Care for Nurses, 1-3. Retrieved from http://nursing.advanceweb.com/Editorial/Search/SearchResult.aspx?KW=lifelong%20learningFowler, MD and American Nurses Association (2008). Guide to the code of ethics for nurses: Interpretation and application. Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association.