Should Screening of Student and Qualified Nurses for Bloodborne Infections be Compulsory and Infected Individuals Excluded from Work?

Abstract

Policies on whether student and qualified nurses should be screened for bloodborne infections and whether infected individuals should be excluded from work must be based on sound ethical principles. Patients have rights, and nurses and employers have duties to respect these rights. However, nurses also have rights that must be respected by their employers and the State. Balancing these competing rights and duties is a complex procedure. In this article, these rights and duties are discussed and applied to a selection of issues.