Ethical standards are the backbone of nursing practice, guiding nurses as they interact with patients, families, and colleagues. These standards are crucial for providing safe, empathetic care centered on the patient's needs.
Nurses are entrusted with upholding various ethical principles and standards. Nurses forge solid therapeutic relationships using trust, empathy, autonomy, confidentiality, and professional competence.
Confidentiality is crucial, embodying respect for individual privacy and cultivating trust within the nurse-patient dynamic. Confidentiality in patient care extends beyond the legal requirement—it is a fundamental aspect of ethical nursing. It includes all protected health information (PHI): past, present, or future physical or mental health conditions, procedures, clinical research records, images, conversations, visits, and mental health notes. Importantly, patient information must be shared strictly on a 'need-to-know' basis, upholding the patient's privacy and prioritizing their welfare.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule provides a framework to protect confidential health information, enabling individuals to maintain dignity by safeguarding their health details. This rule applies to all electronic, paper, or verbal patient information handled by healthcare entities or their business associates. The right to privacy is comprehensive, protecting personal space, especially during sensitive care procedures, and details about a person's cultural or religious affiliations, relationships, and personal preferences.
Nurses and healthcare team members must be cautious when discussing patient details, avoiding unauthorized disclosures in public spaces like hallways, elevators, and cafeterias. Respecting patient privacy involves securing consent before discussing patient details with anyone, including family members. Nurses should not access medical records of patients not under their direct care to prevent privacy breaches. Physical privacy must be safeguarded during medical or surgical interventions, ensuring only essential personnel are present unless the patient consents otherwise.
