OBJECTIVES: To survey in the literature the procedures performed by nurses related to the preparation and administration of intravenous medications and serums; and, to relate the procedures to ethical standards established by Resolution No. 311/07 COFEN. METHODS: The type of research was literature review, conducted in the databases Medline, Lilacs, SciELO and BDENF. A thematic analysis was performed on 13 items and two categories emerged: 1) procedures performed by nurses in preparing and administering intravenous medications; and 2) ethical responsibilities of nurses (the role of the judiciary in the face of administrative decisions of disciplinary nature made by the Federal Nursing Council and Regional Nursing Councils). RESULTS: The nurse must carry out the preparation and administration of intravenous medications in accordance with the basic requirements of ensuring no damage to the client, and also following the Code of Ethics of Professional Nursing. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of ethics is essential for the nursing profession because it subsidizes the theoretical foundations and provides the performing of tasks with effective results that have the intention of protecting the human being.
Ethics, nursing; Medication errors; Liability, legal
