Confidentiality in Nursing

Dimond (2002) defines confidentiality as one of the values of good care practice that is concerned with protecting private information about the patient and clients obtained during the period of professional practice.

The NMC code of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives’ (NMC, 2008) states firstly one must respect people’s right to confidentiality.

Professionals must ensure people are informed about how and why information is shared by those who will be providing their care. Everyone must disclose information if you believe that someone is at risk of harm, in line with the law of the country in which you are practicing. (NMC, 2008)  

As a health care professional, it is important to have legal and professional responsibilities to respect the rights of patients and clients and to treat them equally no matter age or disability. To ensure that people are informed about how and why information is shared by those who will be providing their care. All health care professionals must disclose information if you believe someone may be at the risk of harm, in line with the law of the country in which you are practising. (NMC, 2008)

It is not acceptable to discuss matters related to the people in their care outside the clinical setting unless you have the patients consent. (NMC, 2008)

References

• Dimond, B., 2002. Legal Aspects of Nursing. 3rd ed. England:Pearson education limited.

• NMC, 2007. Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives [internet] (updated on May 1, 2008)

Available at: http://www.nmc-uk.org/aDisplayDocument.aspx?documentID=3954

• Oxford University Press., 1993. The Mini School Dictionary. Oxford:New York