Ethics and computer-mediated communication: implications for practice and policy.
Computer-mediated communication, or email, has become a common workplace practice. Interviews with Army nurse managers (n = 9) and their staff nurses (n = 13) revealed that nurses incorporate the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice into their computer-mediated communication use, but to varying degrees. Without clearly defined policies to guide computer-mediated communication practices, informal norms evolve that have an impact on both individual and corporate communication. The authors provide insight into the ethical considerations that have an impact on computer-mediated communication use. The spectrum of participant interpretation of appropriate use of this type of communication suggests the need for policies to establish clear boundaries for workplace usage. Policy recommendations are included.
Torrance
Rebecca J
RJ
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Rockville, Md, USA. rjtorra@earthlink.net
Lasome
Caterina E M
CE
Agazio
Janice B
JB
D000328:Adult; D026686:Beneficence; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000592:standards*; D003219:Confidentiality; D004991:Ethics, Institutional; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006747:Hospital Communication Systems / Q000592:standards*; D006772:Hospitals, Military / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D008888:Military Nursing / Q000592:standards; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012935:Social Justice; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards*