Question

To whom these privacy violations should be reported ?

1. A monitor is turned toward the reception desk so that anyone who walks by can see.

2. A patient complained that his ex-wife looked at his record and told his girlfriend that he has immunodefiency virus.

3. A patient’s lab test was left lying out on the counter of the staff workroom. Staff were in an out of the room all day.

Answer 1

It is important Role of a Nurse to maintain confidentiality of all details that is pertaining to the patient.

1.In case of a monitor that is turned towards the reception desk hinders in maintaining the privacy of the patient, where any one who walks by can see.Its the responsibility of the Nurse who is incharge of the patient to turn it towards the patient or in such a way that its not seen by anyone else.Nursing Incharge of the ward can ensure if all monitors of all patients are not exposed at the juncture to viewed by others.This privacy violations can be informed to the Nursing Incharge.

2.Confidentiality of all the reports and records of the patient should be done by the Nurse who is caring for the patient.It is one of the ethics in Nursing.Improper handling has lead to the leakage of the diagnosis of the patient for which the Nurse can also be liable of charges by the patient.Making sure in respecting the privacy of the patient is very important.This privacy violations can be reported to the Nursing incharge of the unit for further actions against the Nurse.

3.Any misplacement of the patients reports, records of lab investigation, diagnostic procedures records can lead to faulty Nursing care, and may hinder the follow up care or repition of procedure is waste of time, money and energy of the patient.Its the duty of the Nurse incharge to keep all the reports and records of the patient carefully filed in the patients.As its lying in and around the room where all Nurses are walking around, it is the duty of any Nurse who walks and finds r eport down to check with the report what it is and whose does it belong as its the responsibility of a Nurse not to be negligent but to be sportive and observant in providing care of the patient.The privacy violations can be informed to the Incharge Nuse,if the incharge Nurse is found guilty then it can be reported to the Nursing Superintendent.