Using either the Nursing Process as a framework (as outlined in the CNO Practice Standard) or the Decision making Process listed on p. 96, Ross-Kerr & Wood (200(9)(Box 8-5) examine the ethical situation described.

You are a newly registered RPN with the College of Nurses of Ontario. Your first nursing job is working at an HIV clinic. As part of your duties, you are registering new clients and doing baseline assessments and data collection. Janine is your first client who is HIV positive and you are shocked to realize she was recently, about 3 months ago, dating your best friend whom you have known for years. Your best friend had confided that he and Janine had had a sexual relationship at the time, and he was upset with the breakup as he really had started to care for Janine. You are certain your friend was not and is not aware Janine has HIV. You know the “window” period is about 6 months from the time of contracting HIV to possibly testing positive and you are worried about your friend, while you are trying to take care of Janine’s admission.

Questions

1. Using either the Nursing Process as a framework (as outlined in the CNO Practice Standard) or the Decision making Process listed on p. 96, Ross-Kerr & Wood (200(9)(Box 8-5) examine the ethical situation described. Other relevant steps identified in the literature may supplement your analysis of the ethical issue.

2. Decide on the best course of action based on your analysis and research and describe it. How would you carry out the implementation of the plan? How would the success of the plan be evaluated?

3.Provide an individual reflective summary (LEARN), including how you felt throughout the process? Was your value system questioned or tested as you worked through the process? Did you feel comfortable with the proposed solution to the case study? How would you approach this situation in the future? (When answering this question ONLY, you may do so using the first person ex. I felt…).