Moderate

A registered nurse in the United States is asked by a patient's employer to provide the patient's laboratory results. The employer says the information is needed for workplace planning. What must the nurse verify before releasing the results?

Correct answer: B. A valid patient authorization or another legal basis

  • A. Whether the employer has called before
  • B. A valid patient authorization or another legal basis
  • C. Whether the results are considered serious
  • D. Whether the patient's family agrees with disclosure

Explanation

The nurse must verify a valid authorization or another recognized legal basis before releasing laboratory results. An employer's request or family agreement does not by itself permit disclosure of protected health information.

Submitted by a TestUstad contributor and published by the TestUstad editorial teamLast updated
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About US Legal and Ethical Nursing Practice

US nursing law and ethics include state nurse practice acts, scope of practice, standards of care, negligence, malpractice, documentation, confidentiality under HIPAA and informed consent. Ethical reasoning applies autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice and fidelity to conflicts such as refusal of treatment, advance directives, privacy breaches and mandatory reporting, which are not the same as legal liability.

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