Institutional ethics committees first gained national prominence after the 1976 Karen Ann Quinlin decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court. However, it wasn't until the Federal Government promulgated the Baby Doe regulations in 1983 that significant movement occurred toward implementing such committees. Currently, statistics show that the number of ethics committees are increasing in health care institutions across the country. However, the majority of studies have focused on adult institutions. The membership of ethics committees and the objectives under which the committees function are usually addressed by the studies. Very little attention has been given to the nursing representation on the institutional ethics committee and the unique role played by nurses in the deliberation of ethical decision-making. It is the intent of this research to shed some light on the availability and functions of ethics committees within children's hospitals. Attention has also been given to the nurses' involvement on such committees. Additionally, the study takes a separate look at nursing ethics committees, their function within an institution, and the availability of ethics education for nurses. The study offers information not previously acknowledged in past studies of ethics committees. The study also opens up to consideration the unique concerns of nurses and their roles in ethical decision-making.Ethics, in the context of clinical decision-making, identifies, analyzes, and attempts to resolve the moral problems that arise in patient care. The goal of a formal ethical decision-making process is to foster a climate of quality patient care that is congruent with clear ethical standards. In the past, what was right and good for the patient was seen in relationship to the technical decisions made by the physician. Times have changed. The complexity of the environment supports effective multidisciplinary committees to help guide practitioners. This study demonstrated a clear movement toward this end within children's hospitals. It is important to further explore unanswered questions about the effectiveness of the committees, the impact of education, the types of policies established, and whether environments that have institutional ethics committees and/or nursing ethics committees promote more open discussion and shared decision-making.