t 44 ETHICOLEGAL ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY HEALTH NU. RSING T_he practice of community he. nlth nursi_ng is guided by a number of legal nnd ctl1ical pnnc1ples t Jia L center on the welfare ofc Uents and p,-olection of their rjghts. CHNs arc in a po,-ition lo innuence oll,ers to respect ::ind prolecl these rights. Nursing practice is legal if lhe practilioncr works w:ithin the bounds of law: it is ethical if the nurse upholds ethic. :,! principles such as autonomy, bene(icence/nonmaleficem. :e, juslicc, fidelity and veracity. Nurses should at all times.-e:spect their clien~· rigl1ts such as the riglll LU be infonncd about their condition and trenlment or any health intervention tlrnt needs to be done. The,· are entitled to accurate and adcqnate information so that the\' could make an info. rmcd dcc. ision. Cli1mts' refosa J (e. g., 1,pecific FP me U1ods) should not affect their access to o Uler lle:tlth s.-,-vices. Clients han~ the rigbt to safe ;ind quality care and nurses can ensure this only if they are competent. CH~s. therefore. b;ive a 1·esponsibility to update themselves on the la·test developments in health core and in com mu oily health nursing, They should read ne"· books, professional journals, manuals ond other related material s; and, attend seminars and confereuces that could enrich t J1ei1· profes!;lional prc1ctice. They should be updated on tbe latest Prnfessional Regulation Commission (PRC) guidelines on continuing professional education (GP E). Clients s J10uld be treated respectfully at all times. Their right to privacy, particularly during meclical or nursing procedlu-es should be respected. Their health records are tre. 1ted confidentially. rn prioritizing healt11 senrices and activities, health workers in genera] should be guided by l'hr principle "the gre. ftest good for tl1e greatest number''. Another principle that guides the pro,·ision of health services, particularly in governme. nt-owned health faci Jit Y is distributive justice. In a ·micro· setting. this could mean "fair. equitable and app1·opriatc distribution" (Beauchamp and Walters, p. 26) of services and resources such a,-medicines and medical supplies. J'rimaril)· because resou. rces are limited. PHNs should be guided by the equily rule. that is, (assuming that the need is the same) the scarce resources shcrnlcl he given to t JJe one who is in greater need. "Need" is dictated not only by one's health conditio n but also by his inability to pay. CHNs c. lo not only deliver needed health services, they also humanize the health care delivery system as well. REFERENCES 1. Adelaide Recommendations on Healthy Public Policy. Second luternational Conference on Heallb Pl'omotion. Adeluide, Soutb Australia. April 5-9, 1988. 2. Alfarn-1,ef-'cvre, R. (2006). Applying Nursing Process. A 'Tool. for Critical T11inking. 6'" ed. Phi Jadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. 3, AJfaru-Le Fe11·e, R. (2002). Applying Niirsing Process. Promoting Collaborative Car P.. s'" ed. Philadelphin: Lippinc ott Williams and Wilkins. 4, Allender, J. A. & Spradley, B. \1V. (2001). Com11runity Health Nur·sing. s'" ed. Philadelphia: Uppincott. 