The Fastest Way To Get Tossed Out Of Nursing School
HIPAA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
I have personally seen students put out of the nursing program for not following HIPAA guidelines such as taking home patients information they have printed from their charts, talking about patients in the elevators of hospitals and even telling people who ask about patients their information. You must take HIPAA laws seriously because this is the quickest way to get put out of nursing school with hardly any questions asked.
The Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act means that the patient’s information is protected by law without compromising the care you give. The patient must authorize any and all information given unless you are collaborating with physicians, physical therapists or any other health care providers of the patient. Always ensure the patient signs a statement and explain to them their information is protected.
Example
Let’s say you are sitting at the nurses station and a young man introduces himself to you as the son of patient X in Room 1 and asks how his mother is doing. Never! Never! Never! Give away patient information. Direct him to a nurse as a student. Let’s say you are a nurse then you would ask the mother if it is ok to share her health information with him. Also, do not answer the phone as a nursing student if you can help it. You are learning the ropes and it is better safe than sorry.
Application
Look at your environment. Are there people around? Does the patient share a room? Is the room sound proof? Are you asking for information that is not relevant to their disease process? Asking yourself these questions will help you keep your patients information safe.
In general during clinical, if you do not have the facts or training, if it breaks any policies or laws, if it is not evidence based practice, if you have never heard of it then do not do it. Simply be an observer and ask your instructor.
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