Nurse Midwife Exam Prep

Answer: C - The main and critical role of applied professional ethics is to maintain internal regulation and avoid external regulation. Self-regulation is preferred because no one knows midwifery better than its members. With self-regulation, external agencies are less likely to interfere with the practice. Ethical codes foster professional identity and encourage nurse midwives to define themselves and communicate who they are in relation to others. Through professional ethics, the consumers and care givers are protected, causing increased confidence in the profession. Ethical codes also signal professional maturity, which stimulates further development of ethical codes and guidelines.