Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing
Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing ( 5 Questions)
A nurse overhears a conversation among colleagues discussing confidential patient information outside of the designated work area. What action should the nurse take to address this legal and ethical breach?
Contributes to the breach of patient confidentiality and does not address the issue.
Passively allows the breach to continue and does not fulfill the nurse's responsibility to protect patient information.
Maintaining patient confidentiality is a legal and ethical responsibility of healthcare professionals. In this situation, the nurse should remind colleagues about the importance of patient confidentiality and suggest discussing sensitive matters in a private, designated area. This action promotes ethical conduct, upholds patient rights, and helps create a culture of respect for privacy.
May be necessary if the breach persists or if the reminder is ignored. However, addressing the issue directly with colleagues is a proactive step that should be taken first.
Remind colleagues about the importance of patient confidentiality and suggest discussing sensitive matters in private.
Maintaining patient confidentiality is a legal and ethical responsibility of healthcare professionals. In this situation, the nurse should remind colleagues about the importance of patient confidentiality and suggest discussing sensitive matters in a private, designated area. This action promotes ethical conduct, upholds patient rights, and helps create a culture of respect for privacy.
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Option a (joining the conversation and sharing experiences) contributes to the breach of patient confidentiality and does not address the issue.
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Option b (ignoring the conversation) passively allows the breach to continue and does not fulfill the nurse's responsibility to protect patient information.
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Option d (reporting the incident to the supervisor or appropriate authority) may be necessary if the breach persists or if the reminder is ignored. However, addressing the issue directly with colleagues is a proactive step that should be taken first.