Introduction Occupational health nurses face a plethora of ethical issues throughout their everyday practice. An obstacle persists when the occupational health nurse faces an ethical issue, in which they are unable to act on their ethical obligations due to a variety of constraints (Canadian Nurses Association, 2003). This phenomenon is also known as ethical distress. Ethical distress is of utmost importance as this can be an expression of a nurses’ sensitivity to the moral aspects of practice, including an acknowledgement towards the patients’ vulnerability (Canadian Nurses Association, 2003). An experience with ethical distress can lead the nurse to reflect on their personal moral code and may lead to a positive integration into one’s practice.
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Unfortunately, occupational health nurses must recognize that personal and corporate values can compete (Rogers, 2012). This may present an ethical issue in confidentiality, as nurses have a professional duty to safeguard client records. However, health records may be requested from company, resulting in conflicting interests. In this situation, the nurse must reflect upon the ethical dilemma and utilize nursing ethical principles to justify the their appropriate course of action. The ethical dilemma of patient confidentiality can be examined through the lens of various ethical principles including: autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice. Additionally, moral theories can also be applied to this ethical dilemma in order to provide insight on the issue at …show more content…
It certainly of the best interest for the employee to keep their health records safeguarded and consented upon any disclosure. However, the ethical dilemma of patient confidentiality may be challenged when disclosing certain information to the employer may actually promote the well-being of the worker. For instance, a worker may have been exposed to a workplace hazard such as constant noise pollution. Inversely, the worker may have permanent impairment in their hearing ability. If this information were to be exposed to the employer, the employer can ensure that the adequate safeguards are in place, introduce hazard surveillance systems as well as modify the workplace, in order to minimize constant
Unfortunately, occupational health nurses must recognize that personal and corporate values can compete (Rogers, 2012). This may present an ethical issue in confidentiality, as nurses have a professional duty to safeguard client records. However, health records may be requested from company, resulting in conflicting interests. In this situation, the nurse must reflect upon the ethical dilemma and utilize nursing ethical principles to justify the their appropriate course of action. The ethical dilemma of patient confidentiality can be examined through the lens of various ethical principles including: autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice. Additionally, moral theories can also be applied to this ethical dilemma in order to provide insight on the issue at …show more content…
It certainly of the best interest for the employee to keep their health records safeguarded and consented upon any disclosure. However, the ethical dilemma of patient confidentiality may be challenged when disclosing certain information to the employer may actually promote the well-being of the worker. For instance, a worker may have been exposed to a workplace hazard such as constant noise pollution. Inversely, the worker may have permanent impairment in their hearing ability. If this information were to be exposed to the employer, the employer can ensure that the adequate safeguards are in place, introduce hazard surveillance systems as well as modify the workplace, in order to minimize constant