Question

Nursing Ethics Assignment Write an essay supporting t with evidence about The importance of maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of patients as an ethical duty for health care workers As a nurse discuss your role to maintain the privacy of your patients. .

Answer 1

1)

Patient confidentiality is one of the most important pillars of medicine. Protecting the private details of a patient is not just a matter of moral respect, it is essential in retaining the important bond of trust between the healthcare workers and the individual. A health system with strong privacy mechanisms will promote public confidence and trust in health care services generally. This trust encourages the patient to disclose their health related problems to the physician.

Confidentiality is recognized by law as privileged communication between two parties in a professional relationship, such as with a patient and a physician, a nurse or other clinical professional.

Privacy, as distinct from confidentiality, is viewed as the right of the individual client or patient to be let alone and to make decisions about how personal information is shared. It is to define and limit the circumstances in which an individual’s protected heath information may be used or disclosed

2)

Associated with the right to privacy, the nurse has a duty to maintain confidentiality of all patient information. ... The standard of nursing practice and the nurse's responsibility to provide quality care require that relevant data be shared with those members of the health care team who have a need to know. Nurses are important in ensuring that organizations create an environment to safeguard patients' rights to confidentiality.

Nurses deal with private information all day every day, from nursing stations and offices to exam rooms to patient bedsides to operating rooms. However, due to their focus on a patient’s health and their constant contact with patient data, many may become desensitized to the importance of protecting privacy of patients.