Which behaviors indicate that the student nurse has a good understanding of confidentiality and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)? (Select all that apply.)

Question

a. Writes the patient's room number and date of birth on a paper for school
b. Prints/copies material from the patient's health record for a graded care plan
c. Reviews assigned patient's record and another unassigned patient's record
d. Reads the progress notes of assigned patient's record
e. Gives a change-of-shift report to the oncoming nurse about the patient
f. Discusses patient care with the hospital volunteer

Answer 1

ANS: D, E
When you are a student in a clinical setting, confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA are part of professional practice. Reading the progress notes of an assigned patient's record and giving a change-of-shift report to the oncoming nurse about the patient are behaviors that follow HIPAA and confidentiality guidelines. Students and health care professionals may not discuss a patient's examination, observation, conversation, diagnosis, or treatment with other patients or staff not involved in the patient's care. To protect patient confidentiality, ensure that written materials used in your student clinical practice do not include patient identifiers (e.g., room number, date of birth, demographic information), and never print material from an electronic health record for personal use.