Which behavior engaged in by a patient diagnosed with both schizophrenia and hepatitis C presents the community mental health nurse with the greatest need to share information ordinarily protected by the patient's right to confidentiality?
a. Engaging in unprotected sex
b. Wearing the uniform of a police officer
c. Expressing a "real hatred for the government"
d. Stealing clothing and food from stores in the neighborhood
ANS: A
Legal and ethical issues continually challenge community mental health nurses. Nurses need to be aware of state laws that mandate patient confidentiality while sharing necessary infor-mation about a patient. For example, a nurse who learns this patient is engaging in high-risk sexual behavior needs to report such findings to the appropriate professionals in order to pro-tect the public. The other options, although problematic, do not have this level of seriousness regarding the good of the general public.
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