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Difficulty: MediumConfidentiality and Information Security

A practical nurse (PN) is documenting assessment findings in a client's electronic health record (EHR) at a mobile workstation in a busy hospital corridor. Another nurse calls out for urgent assistance with a client who has fallen in a nearby room. What is the priority action for the PN regarding the workstation before responding to the situation?

  1. A
    Minimize the active charting window to conceal the client's medical data.
  2. B
    Turn the workstation monitor to face the wall to prevent visual access.
  3. C
    Ask a nearby unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to watch the open terminal.
  4. Log off the EHR system or activate the screen lock function.Answer

Answer

Log off the EHR system or activate the screen lock function.
The correct action is to secure the terminal by logging off or locking the screen. Even during an urgent situation, the nurse remains legally and ethically responsible for protecting client confidentiality and securing their electronic health record (EHR) credentials. Leaving an active session unattended in a public area is a direct violation of HIPAA and exposes protected health information to unauthorized individuals.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the situation involving a mobile workstation in a public area and a sudden distraction.
The nurse is preparing to leave an active EHR session unattended in a busy corridor.
Identifying the context helps determine the risk of exposure to protected health information (PHI).
2
Apply the principles of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and standard facility security policies.
PHI must be protected from unauthorized access at all times, including during sudden interruptions or emergencies.
The nurse is legally and ethically responsible for securing their login credentials and the client data currently displayed on the screen.
3
Determine the most effective and compliant action to secure the workstation before walking away.
Logging out or locking the screen completely terminates or secures the active session.
Other physical methods, such as minimizing the screen or turning the monitor, leave the digital session active and highly vulnerable to a breach.

Key Concept

Electronic Health Record Security and Confidentiality
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Confidentiality and Information Security

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