A practical nurse (PN) is working at the central station of a medical-surgical unit. An off-duty nurse from the maternity ward approaches and says, "I heard my cousin was admitted to this unit last night. How is he doing?" Which response by the PN is the most appropriate?
- A"He had a restful night, but I cannot give you any specific details about his diagnosis."
- "I cannot share any client information with personnel who are not directly involved in the client's care."Cevap
- C"You will need to check the electronic health record yourself since you are a hospital employee."
- D"Why do you need to know his status if you are not his designated emergency contact?"
Cevap
The response stating that client information cannot be shared with personnel not directly involved in the client's care is the most appropriate action.
The correct response directly upholds the core principles of confidentiality. Under HIPAA regulations, nurses and other healthcare providers are legally and ethically obligated to protect client information. Disclosing any information—even to another hospital employee or a family member—is strictly prohibited unless that person is directly involved in the client's care or the client has provided explicit, documented authorization.
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Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), healthcare personnel may only access or receive protected health information (PHI) if they are directly involved in the client's care. Being a hospital employee or a relative does not grant automatic access to a client's medical information.