Developing an ethical basis for student-teacher interaction.

This article first reviews the literature on the development of ethical content within nursing curricula and its impact on nursing education. This is followed by a discussion of faculty responsibility for the preparation of ethically competent graduates. Faculty behaviors that appear to be related to ethically sound education practices are discussed along with examples of positive and negative behaviors. The article concludes with five principles to use in developing an ethical basis for student-teacher relationships. These principles include mutual respect, open communication, demonstration of linkages between ethical principles and behavior, facilitating students' understanding of their behaviors, and recognition of legitimate individual differences in ethical positions.