Refusal to care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: issues and responses.

Nurses historically have accepted the risk of contagion while caring for patients with infectious diseases. The duty to care for patients is directly related to the care the patient requires, the nurse's knowledge, and the extraordinary risk to the nurse. The current infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) highlights other factors, such as fear, ignorance, and homophobia, that influence a nurse's decision to refuse to provide care. Professional associations, nurse administrators, and educators must assist nurses to gain the knowledge and skill necessary to provide care as well as explore feelings about different life-styles.

Which patient gets the critical care bed?

Census fluctuations and the failure to develop appropriate guidelines for admitting and transferring patients have made the staffing of critical care units extremely difficult, sometimes with serious ethical and physical consequences to patients. In this report, a case is analyzed to explore some of the ramifications of the use of beds in the critical care unit.