The nurse is aware that when caring for patients with communicable diseases,such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) ,

A) Every health care worker who comes into contact with a patient has the right to know the patient's HIV infection status.
B) They can refuse to care for a patient with SARS or AIDS if there are a lack of resources or ongoing threats to personal well-being.
C) The nurse is responsible for providing their own personal protective equipment to care for patients with communicable diseases.
D) In known cases of AIDS or SARS,information can be disclosed without the patient's consent.

Question

Mohamed Ahmed · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : B, Explanation :  Nurses are able to refuse to provide care when they experience an unreasonable burden.An unreasonable burden exists when the nurse's ability to provide safe care and meet the standards of practice is compromised by unreasonable expectations,lack of resources,or ongoing threats to personal well-being.Not every health care worker who comes in contact with a patient needs to know the patient's HIV status.Confidential information must be protected.Strict compliance with standard precautions or routine practices and the use of transmission-based (e.g. ,airborne or droplet)precautions for patients known or suspected of having serious communicable illnesses is the nurse's wisest strategy;however,it is not the nurse's responsibility to provide the personal protective equipment.The employer has an obligation to provide their employees with necessary protective gear.Whenever information about a patient is requested by any third parties,including insurance companies or employers,nurses must obtain a signed release from the patient before releasing confidential information.

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