Industrial Hygiene Factors in Weimer Hospital in Texas - Essay Example

Industrial Hygiene Factors in Weimer Hospital in TexasThe case of an operation room nurse at Weimer Hospital in Texas being discriminated against by doctors due to her HIV status is a topic that elicits industrial hygiene debate. In the wake of a world that is conscious of the HIV factors, particularly the risk factors that the medical professional presents to the patients, it is a hard decision to make from the managerial perspective regarding the image portrayed by her retention. On the other hand, the non-discrimination policies regulations that govern employment relations protect individuals from termination of their employment engagement on the basis of unfound fears.

Based on the complexity of the case amid calls for industrial hygiene and patient protection obligation of health facilities, the case of the nurse at Weimer Hospital is analyzed and evaluated by the following discourse.The facts of the case study are to the effect that that the operation room nurse at the Weimer Hospital faces isolation and neglect by virtue if doctors locking her out of her duties for fear of patient exposure risks that the HIV positive nurse poses. In view of the fact that the operation room is a highly sensitive area that serious disease factors ought to be highly controlled and avoided, the doctors feel that this might not be achieved if the nurse continues to offer her services inside the operation room.

On the other hand, the size of the hospital may be restrictive of such a move since it is a small facility that might need to pull resources together for delivery of services. The administrator is under pressure to maintain public image of the facility that is important in its operations, since almost everyone knows about the case.Based on the technical aspects of the case, the predisposing factors of that the patients undergoing operations have can be assessed to reveal very low risk levels.

HIV transmission from the operation room nurse to a patient could be high only if the nurse participates in direct operations. However, the role of a nurse in an operation is to assist the surgeons who make the risk considerably low, since contamination of the needles or other operation equipment by the nurse’s blood remain negligibly laughable. Transmission channels are generally through blood, seminal fluid, body fluids contaminated by blood such as saliva and milk. General contact is not involved in HIV transmissions while air or water can also not act as agents of transmissions.

In light of these facts, the nurse case is mainly made worse by unfounded fears.Regulations such as anti-discrimination laws, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Rehabilitation Act, employment regulations as well as Texas State regulations prohibit such unfounded discrimination (Cretin et al, 86). Federal regulations are particularly protective against discrimination against HIV status and allow legal remedies in case of violation of the protected rights. In Bragdon Vs Abbott it was held that HIV is categorized under physical impairments whereas ADA regulations offer a chance for review of cases as a matter of their facts.

From the engagement of the nurse in an operation, rating the level of risk posed by her work does not place her under significant risk to others safety or health. Per Tex. Health & Safety Code: 85.201 of the Texas Regulations however restrict her roles to exclude invasive procedures or when the patients’ consent has been sought regarding her condition and duties.Work CitedCretin, S., Ferguson, J., Greenfield, S.,Grimshaw, J., Grol, R., Gross, P.A., Klazinga, N., Lorenz, W., Meyer, G.S., Riccobono, C.

, Schoenbaum, S.C., Schyve, P. & Shaw, C. “Optimal methods for guideline implementation: conclusions from Leeds Castle meeting,” Medical Care, 39.8(2001) II 85-II 89