Ethical Dilemma- Denying Care

Nurses COVID

Published

  1. Would you deny care to a potential patient with an unknown infectious disease?

    • 2
      Yes (without hesistation)
    • 4
      Yes, IF...
    • 3
      No

9 members have participated

In the case of an internal hospital disaster (outbreak of an unknown infectious disease), are you, the nurse, obligated to provide care to the possibly infected/infected person without proper protective equipment at the expense of your own life?

In my opinion, as a student nurse, we should provide care because we had made an oath to care for all and the CDC provides protocols that are recommended to be followed by hospitals to implement for the safety of their staff.

Additional questions:

-Should nurses be provided the highest form of PPE if the transmission route is unknown, like N95 masks to Hazmat suits?

- Do hospitals have a specific policy and procedure that addresses the management with a client that acquired an unknown infectious disease?

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Specializes in RN CRRN.

If they tried to make me use droplet precautions...then yes. Give me every kind of PPE within reason and no problem!

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Specializes in ICU.

We did make an oath to care for all, but I don't remember reading that we made an oath to die if necessary. I don't remember being taught in nursing school that my life was totally worthless and I should risk it at every available opportunity. We can't help anyone else if we are dead.

If there is proper PPE, sure, I'll take care of someone with an unknown infectious disease. Otherwise, forget about it.

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