When it comes to a health care environment, it should come as no surprise that there is an outstanding number of ethical dilemmas. When looking at these dilemmas there is never an easy choice to make, which is why health care workers should always look to the four ethical principles, autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice, when making the best decision morally possible, given the circumstances. There are several factors to consider when choosing either side. Both the supporters and non-supporters of mandatory flu vaccination for all health care workers have their reasoning and beliefs that influence their decisions. The decisions, however are not as simple when working in a health-related environment; health care workers are held
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For example, a lot of hospitals made it mandatory for all health care workers to receive vaccinations when there was an outbreak of H1N1 or better known as the swine flu. These hospitals made it to where no one could have an informed declined option and if the workers refused then the outcome would be dismissal from their job (Winston, Wagner, and Chan, 2014). More than half of health care workers agree with having a mandate, but when you break it down into categories more nurses are against it than physicians. Mandates create tension and hard feelings in the work environment and make employees feel like they do not wish to be a part of that. Here in the United States we must at least offer the influenza vaccinations, educate health care workers, and keep track of the number of vaccinations given (FitzSimmons, …show more content…
Health care workers will always be at a greater risk of receiving and spreading the influenza virus because of the profession they chose to be in. The ideal thing to happen would to be for everyone to receive the vaccination for the greater good of the patients and everyone else around them. If not then one should follow and comply with alternate procedures to help reduce the wide spread of any pathogens, diseases, or viruses. Yes, autonomy is violated to an extent in some locations, however it is one of the responsibilities taken when planning to pursue a career in this field to accomplish beneficence and nonmaleficence for the patient. The health care facilities will only be as good as the health care workers who run them. Therefor mandates for the vaccination to health care personnel would be a con because it causes too much friction in the work environment even though it is meant for
For example, a lot of hospitals made it mandatory for all health care workers to receive vaccinations when there was an outbreak of H1N1 or better known as the swine flu. These hospitals made it to where no one could have an informed declined option and if the workers refused then the outcome would be dismissal from their job (Winston, Wagner, and Chan, 2014). More than half of health care workers agree with having a mandate, but when you break it down into categories more nurses are against it than physicians. Mandates create tension and hard feelings in the work environment and make employees feel like they do not wish to be a part of that. Here in the United States we must at least offer the influenza vaccinations, educate health care workers, and keep track of the number of vaccinations given (FitzSimmons, …show more content…
Health care workers will always be at a greater risk of receiving and spreading the influenza virus because of the profession they chose to be in. The ideal thing to happen would to be for everyone to receive the vaccination for the greater good of the patients and everyone else around them. If not then one should follow and comply with alternate procedures to help reduce the wide spread of any pathogens, diseases, or viruses. Yes, autonomy is violated to an extent in some locations, however it is one of the responsibilities taken when planning to pursue a career in this field to accomplish beneficence and nonmaleficence for the patient. The health care facilities will only be as good as the health care workers who run them. Therefor mandates for the vaccination to health care personnel would be a con because it causes too much friction in the work environment even though it is meant for