title: The real meaning of patient-nurse confidentiality.
abstract: Critical care nurses learn early in their careers that patient confidentiality is to be respected. Challenges to this belief come when public safety or justice seems to outweigh any individual's privacy. The resolution of the problem caused by such competing values may not be easy for a nurse and will necessarily demand examination of legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Adjunct Faculty, College of Management, Suffolk University, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cochran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D016494:Computer Security; D003219:Confidentiality; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D018907:Privacy; D011361:Professional Competence; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012945:Social Values