Nursing is a discipline that is critical to the health and welfare of all nations and the backbone of any health care system. Without a sufficient supply of nurses to care for the public’s needs, the public’s health is at risk. Unfortunately, the United States is currently experiencing a nationwide nursing shortage and it is estimated that 500,000 additional nurses will be needed by the year 2025 (United Press International, 2008). This represents a potential public health crisis; at a time when we are facing an unprecedented nursing shortage and a need for qualified nurse providers, recruitment and retention efforts should focus on long-term solutions, not simply quick fixes. Regrettably, ethics dialogue is not generally part of this solution, as nurses leave the profession, in part, because of unresolved ethical issues. In the past, nurses were more subordinate than they are today, and changes in the profession continue to address the legitimate role of nursing in society. In light…