Nurses with blood-borne pathogens and the moral responsibilities of nurse regulating authorities

This paper examines, for consideration by nurses and nurse regulating authorities (NRA), certain ethical and practice issues concerning registered/enrolled nurses with blood-borne pathogens (BBPs), such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis Viruses. Under existing legislation, the identity and infectious status of a nurse with a BBP may be notified to a NRA by either a medical practitioner or another person. In the event of a notification being made, NRAs need to consider the question of how best to achieve a workable balance between protecting the significant moral interests of both the public and the nurse concerned. This paper clarifies how such a balance may be achieved, and provides recommendations on how the issue can be addressed in practice.