Page 53 - Human Rights

Faculty of Nursing
Adult care Nursing Department

A South African study recommended that more students be trained to combat the consequent decline in

nurses.

In an effort to protect the health and safety of health staff, the International Labor Organization, in

conjunction with the World Health Organization, has drawn up guidelines to promote functional and
healthy medical workforces.

Recommendations center on prevention of transmission risks; social dialogue between key stakeholders;
clear and prevalent information and education; and a focus on gender and the particular risks and

experiences of women working in a health care environment.

Nurses should, according to the ICN, have access to information about the prevention of HIV/AIDS

as well as supplies and protective equipment.

Nurses should also have access to appropriate post-exposure follow-up care and monitoring,
including immediate first aid and documentation.

However, access to post-exposure prophylaxis for nurses is far from universal and reluctance on

the part of health staff to report occupational exposure or take prophylactic medication has been

noted.

HIV-positive nurses and midwives have the right of access to confidential counselling and to
necessary treatment in order to best protect their own health and the health of those they work

for.

Where necessary on medical grounds, their duties could be modified, so the risk to their patients
or themselves is reduced.

They should also be provided protection from discrimination such as job or housing loss.

Balancing the risks to nursing staff and the treatment needs of patients will not always be simple

in high prevalence countries.

50 Academic Year 2025/2026