Q. We are preparing to accept clients with COVID-19. I am concerned about becoming infected or passing the virus onto my family members. What is my duty to provide care?
A. This is a tough question as you are caught between your professional obligation to provide care and your obligation not to put your family at risk.
You are expected to make your decision based on an analysis of all the data at hand. This includes understanding the needs of the client, your employer policies, being aware of what protective gear is available to you, how to access and use it and the risk to the client should you refuse to provide care in relation to the risk to you should you decide to provide it.
Nurses have a duty to provide care. It is part of your professional obligation when you accept employment as a nurse or hold yourself out to be a nurse. The duty applies in every day scenarios and in natural or human made disasters, including a COVID-19 outbreak.
Being a nurse means there is always a certain amount of risk associated with the performance of your duties. There is also an expectation that you make every effort to minimize your personal risk by using the necessary and recommended safety precautions. You are not expected to provide care without taking action to protect yourself.
When thinking about your duty to provide care, consider the following:
- You are accountable to make decisions that are in the best interest of clients and to protect them and yourself from harm.
- You are accountable and responsible for your actions, including inactions, at all times.
- You are not expected to expose yourself unnecessarily to risks.
- You are expected to protect your client and you by using appropriate resources and equipment.
- Discuss your concerns with your manager. Find out what information and supports are available for staff.
- Contact your employer’s infection control service to discuss the most appropriate measures to manage any risk. Make sure you know how to use and where to access protective equipment.
- Review your employer’s infection control policies and procedures.
- Consider resource availability.
- What is the plan to access more resources when needed?
- What is the plan if resources become scarce?
- How do you protect yourself and clients when resources are scarce?
