Nurses are faced with countless ethical issues in carrying out their professional responsibilities, like compassion, consent and safeguarding just to mention a few; this essay will explore the importance of confidentiality in relation to Mental Health and Child Nursing incorporating aspects of diversity.
Since January 2007, laptop with personal information was lost, email and fax sent to the wrong person, inappropriate disposal of medical record, not to mention the famous telephone call from someone pretending to be patient’s relative (Long, 2012). The confidential data compliance can be very difficult and pointless without a safety net; Hence, the rational of introducing confidentiality.
Yeo Michael et al (2010) defined confidentiality as the protection and control over information privy. Confidentiality is important because it is an ethical principle and a legal obligation that Mental health Nurses should adhered to in carrying out their professional duties (NMC, 2008). As an ethical principal it is enshrined in the Nurses and Midwifes Council (NMC) code of conduct. The code is consistent with the Data Protection Act 2008 which states that information should be kept accurate and secure. All these are intended to maintain trust and protect the public (NHS, 2013).
Furthermore, it creates information barrier and protect service users especially vulnerable individual. This mean that Information given in circumstances where it is expected that a duty of confidence applies, that information cannot without the information provider’s consent be disclosed under the common law and as a legal obligation for Mental health Nurses (NMC, 2008). Nonetheless, there is exceptional circumstance where the person is unable to give consent but con...
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In conclusion, both Mental and Children nursing should act professionally at all times. They should work within the guide line of the NMC code to patient confidentiality. The access to intimate personal information should not be abused but seen as a privilege, the ability for a patient to divulge this information all rest on trust that the information will be protected. These ultimately help diagnoses, protection of patient and move research forward while enhance therapeutic relationship.
Furthermore, Nurses should be able to identify and recognize what confidential data is and take practical measures to protect this information. They should take advantage of the policies and procedures to protection and dissemination of personal information. They should recognize that no one has automatic access to medical information with the patient consent.
Disclosing confidential patient information without patient consent can happen in the health care field quite often and is the basis for many cases brought against health care facilities. There are many ways confidential information gets into the wrong hands and this paper explores some of those ways and how that can be prevented.
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.
Out of all the duties of a nurse, one of the most important duties is how the nurse honors the trust of a patient by maintaining the patient’s privacy and safeguarding the patient’s information confidentially. Privacy is the ability of the patient to make the choices in how to handle information regarding him or herself that other individuals are not aware of. As an example, prior to releasing the patient’s private information, the nurse must notify the patient on how their information will be handled and get consent from the patient
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 this essay I will be discussing the importance of safeguarding within mental health nursing and child nursing, I have chosen to talk about this topic because student and registered nurses include this in their training and continue to be influenced by the importance of safeguarding in everyday practice. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) states that 50,500 children in the UK are known to be at risk of abuse. As nurses during practice and placement we need to ensure that we follow correct procedures that ensure that barriers are not crossed which will cause safeguarding issues. For Mental Health Nurses (RMN) this could include; ensuring that proper consent is given, ensuring that vulnerable adults in our care are safe and their welfare is
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.
Which is very important for nurses or any medical professional to do in the healthcare profession. Nurses are receiving these patients in their most vulnerable state, nurses are exposed and trusted with the patients’ information to further assist them on providing optimum treatment. Keeping patient’s information private goes back to not just doing what’s morally right but also it also builds that nurse – patient relationship as well. We also have provision three that specifically taps on this issue as well, as it states: “The nurse seeks to protect the health, safety, and rights of patient.” (Nurses Code of Ethics,
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).
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
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.
Provision 3.1 of the ANA’s Code of Ethics states that the nurse will promote, advocate, and protect patients’ privacy and confidentiality (American Nurses Association, 2012). The protection of our patients’ privacy is fundamental. The ANA Code of Ethics is not a suggestion; it is a mandate to all nurses. The code calls for nurses to act when the rights of the patient or the nurse are violated through the actions of others (Edmonson, 2010). Even under FERPA guidelines, it is difficult to make an argument for the release of the student’s personal information in the manner of the large staff
Nursing may be seen as very independent work even though there will be situations that will require others. Friendships may be formed; however, to have professional interactions is something that is not always followed. In terms of patient confidentiality, we may not realize that a HIPPA violation has occurred due to friendly conversation with coworkers. If a patient were to overhear their nurse discussing their information in an unprofessional manner then it may cause issues with a patient’s dignity and their rights. If a patient’s right is violated then it can lead to a patient’s mistrust in their caregiver, leading to mistrust in the facilities, and can end with a patient’s health being compromised. The patient is the reason for this career; if the needs of the patient are being unmet or violated then the purpose of our occupation will be unsuccessful and
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.
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
This profile adheres to the School of Health and Social Care’s guidelines set by Teesside University’s code of conduct in relation to confidentiality and consent. The profile also adheres to the NMC guidelines referring to consent and confidentiality as a real person has not been used; therefore consent did not need to be gained.