Leadership Letters

NOBC October Letter from Leadership: Kimberly Harper

 

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

As we look around today’s environment, we see many examples of ethics at play. Needless to say, the examples we see are not all created equal. Some, we might wish to emulate and others we would not, but it does point out to us the importance of ethical behavior at play.

Bringing this into the boardroom setting, it is imperative that the moral principles and legal duties that govern the work of boards are always of topmost importance. Upholding ethical principles and standards will ensure that, as board members, we always act in the best interest of the organization and the stakeholders it serves. Through serving with a high level of ethical behavior, board members create a culture of integrity throughout the organization. It also helps to protect the organization from legal and reputational risk when all board decisions are made with transparency and accountability, preventing any potential perception of misconduct and promoting a culture of transparent information sharing through which all decisions are made.

Successful boards should all create and maintain a formal document outlining the ethical principles and standards for board members and each board member must be willing to agree to abide by the policy. These “Code of Ethics” documents set expectations up front for areas such as integrity, honest and respect for all. They provide a framework for navigating the work of the board. Through areas such as the Duty of Obedience, the Duty of Loyalty and the Duty of Care, board members are directed as to the importance of meeting expectations set out by the organizations they represent.

As the NOBC Board Representative of the American Nurses Association and the American Nurses Foundation, both of whom were founding member organizations of NOBC in 2014 and remain highly dedication to the promotion of the NOBC values and mission, I am very familiar with examples of setting ethical standards. The American Nurses Enterprise has been a leader in creating and regularly updating the Code of Ethics for Nurses. This document serves as a guideline for the highest level of nursing practice with regard to the integrity and honor of our profession.

As each of us strives to be the best version of ourselves in all aspects of our lives, whether it be in our homes with our family and friends, in our workplaces with colleagues of all professions and personalities, in our places of worship or in boardrooms, it is imperative that we do everything through a strong ethical lens. Today, I challenge each one of us to keep ethics at the center of our decision making. By doing so, we can and will create a healthier, happier environment for all.

 

Kimberly Harper, MS, RN, FAAN

Board Chair Emeritus, Nurses on Boards Coalition

Board Fundraising Chair, Nurses on Boards Coalition

Executive Committee Member, Nurses on Boards Coalition

NOBC Member Representative for American Nurses Association and American Nurses Foundation