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The purpose of this discussion post is to define privacy and confidentiality. A case study from Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing involving a complex ethical issue will be introduced. This paper will also address a few of the ethical implications that may occur in nursing practice.
Privacy and confidentiality are important to most people. As a nurse it is our responsibility to his/her patients to respect and keep private information confidential (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014). Burkhardt and Nathaniel define privacy as a person’s right to keep personal information secret and control who knows this information (2010). The authors define confidentiality as keeping private information about a person secret from others (2014).
A case study written by Burkhardt and Nathaniel, detailing a seventeen-year-old female who admits to abuse but asks for the nurse practitioner not to report it (2014). The principals involved in this scenario are confidentiality, veracity, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and autonomy. A nurse is required by law to report child
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She can ignore patient confidentiality and report the abuse to children’s services as the law requires (General Assembly, 2016). The harm principle and the vulnerability principle assist this nurse’s reasoning in disregarding patient confidentiality in favor of patient safety (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014). The nurse can still respect the patient by being open and honest with her and letting her know that she is thankful that she has confided in her but she is required by law to report both issues of abuse. Patient needs to be educated on how abuse generally escalates and asked if she feels safe going home. There are steps that can be taken if child needs to be removed from unsafe home immediately (General Assembly, 2016). The only other option the nurse has is to ignore the law and not report the abuse in favor of protecting patient
Schmeida, M. (2005). HIPAA of 1996: Just an Incremental Step in Reshaping Government. Retrieved January 25, 2011, from American Nursing Association Web Site: http://www.nursingworld.org
Confidentiality is a major topic within care environments. When it comes to deciding what information is shared and who it is shared amongst can be difficult. Confidential information, is information that is ‘not to be told to anyone’ (The Open University, 2015, p. 58). Information that is sensitive or not publicly known is confidential, also if information is given by a person who is in a setting where confidentially is expected then that information should remain private and not shared with others. It can be very difficult for a staff member to find the balance between knowing what information is confidential and appropriate information that needs to be shared between the staff team.
It’s vital as well for the nurse to spot and report any form of breachment in confidentiality or morally unjust actions. Being silent can be just as lethal as the one performing the
The nurse is required by Ohio law to report the abuse of a minor ("Report child abuse and neglect," n.d.). The only options available are how to do the reporting. The nurse can keep the child in the office while contacting the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to report the abuse and to get the child removed from the environment right away. This can result with the child being placed into foster care or with other family members while it is determined if it is safe for the child to return with the biological father. The other option is to report the abuse anonymously and allow the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to follow up on the tip later. This option would allow the child to return to the abusive environment that can result in further injuries that may be life threatening. Technically, the only ethical option is to report the abuse right away and remove the child from the
In the modern era, the use of computer technology is very important. Back in the day people only used handwriting on the pieces of paper to save all documents, either in general documents or medical records. Now this medical field is using a computer to kept all medical records or other personnel info. Patient's records may be maintained on databases, so that quick searches can be made. But, even if the computer is very important, the facility must remain always in control all the information they store in a computer. This is because to avoid individuals who do not have a right to the patient's information.
In my ethics class, I was taught on different principles regarding to decision-making. Nursing school has taught me different issues that I can face in my career. One of the biggest ethics issues I learned about is patient confidentiality. We will never disclose any information to unauthorized personnel without patient consent. We have an ethical obligation to patient confidentiality and not to breech this. In clinical and class, while we discuss our patient, we do not use any of the patient’s names. When we talk about our patient, we do it in a close private room and not in the hallway where everyone can hear. As a graduate professional nurse, I need to be aware of patient confidentiality and other ethic issue in order to maintain the
Privacy. It is the capacity to control who you see, when you see them and what others think about you. A superior comprehension of a person’s backgrounds gives data for making physical and social situations to meet their privacy and security needs. Make sure that a confidentiality policy is mandated and monitored by all staff working in a healthcare facility or those involve in the care planning of the patient. In private facility care, respect individuals' space by empowering them to customize their own
Barnett, Wilson J.(1986). Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing. Journal of Medical Ethics. Retrieved on 12th July 2010 from
College of Nurses of Ontario,(2009).Practice Guidelines: Confidentiality and privacy-Personal Health Information. Retrieved April 3, 2014 from http://www.cno.org/Global/docs/prac/41069_privacy.pdf
Nursing surrounds the concept of patient care physically, mentally and ethically. The therapeutic relationship that is created is built on the knowledge and skills of the nurse and relies on patient and nurse trusting one another. The use of nursing skills can ensure these boundaries are maintained, it allows for safe patient care. Professional boundaries are the line that nurses cannot cross, involving aspects such as patient confidentiality and privacy, ensuring legal aspects of nursing and the boundaries put in place are not breached. However, nurses accepting financial or personal gain from patient can also cross these professional boundaries. It is only through education in this area that the rights of patients can be preserved, as well as the nursing standards. Through education in areas such as confidentiality, boundaries can remain in tact and the patient care can remain within the zone of helpfulness.
As health care providers, nurses strive to instill confidence in their patients and their loved ones. A nurse is respectful to their colleagues as well as their patients. Nurses promote patients’ independence, patients can be confident in the knowledge that a nurse will do what is best for them, respecting their privacy and dignity. This means that a nurse does not share the patient information for personal reasons nor does the nurse get involved in a patients personal relationship if it is not medically relevant (NCSBN, 2011).
As a nurse, it is within your role to safeguard the right to privacy for individuals. To ensure that nurses are adhering to this, ethical strategies have been proposed and implemented from a legal and regulatory body.
In conclusion, there are numerous legal and ethical issues apparent in the nursing practice. Nurses should study and be as informed as they can with ethics and legality within their field in order to ensure no mistakes occur. Ethical issues vary based on patient’s views, religion, and environment. Nurses are influenced by these same views, but most of the time they are not the same as the patients. As a nurse we must learn to put the care of our patients and their beliefs, rights, and wishes before our own personal
Munro (2003) states child abuse is treating a child in a way that is harmful or morally wrong however, goes on to explain it is hard to find a universal agreement of the definition of child abuse. NSPCC (2010) further explains child abuse as maltreatment of a child. This can be done directly by inflicting harm or indirectly by failing to prevent harm from happening. Abuse can be perpetrated by an adult or another child. Working Together to Safeguard Children (2013) states that it’s the responsibility of everyone who works with children to make sure that a child is safeguarded and their welfare promoted. The Purpose of this essay is firstly to discuss risk factors posed to Simone and Sasha through the scenario provided and highlight ways a professional should assess whether a child is suffering from an abusive or neglectful situation. Secondly the appropriate action that needs to be taken, and the support that needs to be given, and what services will be involved with the family in order to prevent a family brake down while safeguarding and protecting the children’s welfare, will also be discussed. Lastly this essay will draw on current legislation, guidance and procedures that promote multi– agency working in order to effectively safeguard and promote children’s welfare.
Confidentiality is defined as the protection of personal information. It means keeping a client’s information between the health care providers and the client. Every single patient has the right to privacy regarding their personal information from being released to anyone outside of their health care providers. Health care providers have a legal and ethical responsibility to protect all information regarding patients by not disclosing their information to anyone without their written consent from the patient.