" Within this mandate ethical standards would preclude mutilation of any part of the body for any reason, especially under unsanitary conditions by untrained practitioners. (ICN, pp 1-4). The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, Provision 2, states that the nurse's primary commitment is to the patient. Although in addressing the interests of the patient, the nurse must recognize the patient's place in the family or community relationships, in Provision 2.2, the Code identifies types of conflicts of interest for nurses. In such a situation as may exist between a patient, such as a young woman facing FGM, and her family and community, the nurse must examine his or her own personal and professional values, the values and interests of others also responsible for the patient, and those of other patients. The final resolution must "ensure patient safety, guard the patient's best interests and preserve the professional integrity of the nurse (ANA, p. 1).

A nurse may collaborate with other nurses, according to the ANA Nurse's Code of Ethics (§2.3) in order to attain a shared goal which addresses the health needs of the patient and the public. The nurse must act within his or her role and boundaries as a professional, when she becomes a cultural broker. Nursing intervention in a country where FGM is practiced may be done in two ways appropriate to the cultural dilemma. These interventions...

Where a patient is faced with FGM, with possible results of shock, sterility, sexual dysfunction, death and/or other negative consequences, the need to protect the patient against the practice of FGM are obvious, with such a mandate from both Codes of Ethics.
References

ANA Center for Ethics and Human Rights, The, (2009). Code of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretive Statements. Reviewed on July 7, 2009 at: http://nursingworld.org/ethics/code/protected_nwcoe813.htm#1.5.

International Council of Nurses (2006). The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses. Geneva, Switzerland. 1-9. Reviewed July 7, 2009 at: http://www.icn.ch/icncode.pdf.

IRIN (2009). Razor's Edge: The Controversy of Female Genital Mutilation. Film produced by www.irinnews.org/audiofiles/fgm_low.html

National Center for Cultural Competence (2009), Who is the cultural broker? Georgetown University Center for Child & Human Development, Washington, D.C. Reviewed July 9, 2009 at http://www11.georgetown.edu/research/gucchd/nccc/index.html.