Ethical competence and ethical standards are central to professional health care practice. Nursing regulatory groups worldwide require that individuals demonstrate competence or literacy in ethics as a requirement for practice (Chao, S.-Y., et al., 2017). This is equally true of mental health and psychiatric nursing, where these professions exist as an entity distinct from other forms of nursing. However, research demonstrates that all nurses, including mental health nurses, are graduating from educational programs ill-prepared to identify and address ethical dilemmas, as well as lacking confidence in their own abilities (Chao, S.-Y., et al., 2017; Park, 2009; Woods, 2005). The conclusion may be drawn that nurses, including mental health nurses, regularly enter practice without demonstrable competence in applying ethics education in practice, revealing an apparent shortcoming in nursing educational programs. To read the full article, log in using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.