1. Ethics and computer-mediated communication: implications for practice and policy.
- Author
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Torrance RJ, Lasome CE, and Agazio JB
- Subjects
- Adult, Beneficence, Confidentiality, Female, Guidelines as Topic, Hospitals, Military standards, Humans, Male, Maryland, Middle Aged, Military Nursing standards, Nursing Staff, Hospital psychology, Professional Autonomy, Social Justice, Computer Communication Networks standards, Ethics, Institutional, Ethics, Nursing, Hospital Communication Systems standards, Nurse Administrators, Nursing Staff, Hospital standards, Workplace standards
- Abstract
Computer-mediated communication, or email, has become a common workplace practice. Interviews with Army nurse managers (n = 9) and their staff nurses (n = 13) revealed that nurses incorporate the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice into their computer-mediated communication use, but to varying degrees. Without clearly defined policies to guide computer-mediated communication practices, informal norms evolve that have an impact on both individual and corporate communication. The authors provide insight into the ethical considerations that have an impact on computer-mediated communication use. The spectrum of participant interpretation of appropriate use of this type of communication suggests the need for policies to establish clear boundaries for workplace usage. Policy recommendations are included.
- Published
- 2002
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