In respect for human dignity

FigureOn January 25, 2026, after the details began to emerge, I cried for a nurse I did not know who was fatally shot on a Minneapolis street. I felt kinship the moment I saw Alex Pretti try to render aid to a woman who had been pushed to the ground. Having spent my nursing career in emergency services, I would have done the same. This editorial is my emotional outlet since writing has always been my refuge, but initially I could find no words to describe the deep moral wound that left me sitting in silence. After much contemplation, this reflection explores how nurses may ground themselves in professional ethics during emotionally charged and divisive events, and is not intended to assess legal responsibility or public policy. In the days since the event, my thoughts have coalesced around the 2025 American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics (The Code),1 a framework developed to guide our values as nurses 24 hours a day, whether we are at work or not. The Code represents a set of principles that Boards of Nursing use as the basis for evaluating professional conduct. The Code defines what it means to be a licensed nurse. Provision 1 establishes that “The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.”1 What follows are the tangible nursing actions that embody this provision. The Code elaborates on the meaning of respect for human dignity and underscores the condemnation of dehumanization and the affirmation of personhood and humanity. It further describes the imperative for allyship as an ethical responsibility. It calls for eliminating “harmful acts, words, and deeds” as well as bias and prejudice.1 Provision 1 explicitly articulates the essential role of nurses to act in ways that uphold our established ethics. To that end, just scanning social media reveals the intense level of emotion within the nursing profession surrounding Alex Pretti's shooting. Some of the comments are hard to read. Nurses may hold a range of interpretations based on experience, values, and available information. Differing opinions are a flashpoint for many, potentially causing further division and challenging longstanding relationships. When an event like this happens, personal reflection is critical. The ANA Code of Ethics is my anchor and defines my accountability as a licensed nurse. Re-reading The Code in light of recent events has helped me regain my own professional center. I value life, and I value human dignity. If you have not read the 2025 ANA Code of Ethics, now is a good time. May Alex Pretti rest in peace. With respect, LINDA LASKOWSKI-JONES, MS, APRN, ACNS-BC, CEN, NEA-BC, FAWM, FAEN, FAAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, NURSING2026