NHNA Statement on Reproductive Rights

The New Hampshire Nurses Association’s (NHNA) position on reproductive health is supported by the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) Code of Ethics [1]. The ANA bases the Code of Ethics on the core belief that healthcare is a human right and that all persons have the right to bodily autonomy.

• Patients have the right to receive education and counseling on all options related to contraceptive care, family planning, and pregnancy.
• Patients have the right to make informed decisions about their reproductive health without prejudice.
• Nurses should act with compassion and respect for a patient’s decision and ensure privacy when providing care.  
• Nurses must work to address social determinants of health, poverty, and inequality including public policies that may impact these factors. The NHNA believes that we must give a voice to the voiceless and advocate for safe and equitable healthcare in New Hampshire.

The NHNA supports evidence-based nursing practice that facilitates access to care and protects the ability of all New Hampshire residents to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. Healthcare services should not be limited by laws of the state. Laws that create barriers to healthcare lead to poor health outcomes and disproportionately affect vulnerable individuals who do not have access to reproductive services in their community.   The ANA Code of Ethics stipulates “ethics, human rights, and nursing converge as a formidable instrument for social justice and health diplomacy.”  The NHNA supports the patient’s right to access reproductive health services.

[1]  American Nurses Association. Code of ethics for nurses. https://nursing.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ANA-Code-of-Ethics-for-Nurses.pdf