Two nurses in the United States discuss a patient's unusual diagnosis in a crowded hospital elevator. What should the nurse who hears the discussion do?

Correct answer: B. Ask them to continue after leaving the public area

  • A. Join the discussion because both nurses are clinicians
  • B. Ask them to continue after leaving the public area
  • C. Record the discussion for a possible privacy complaint
  • D. Repeat the diagnosis only to the patient's family

Explanation

Patient information should be discussed only in a private setting with staff who have a legitimate need to know. Moving the conversation away from a public area reduces the risk of an unauthorized disclosure under HIPAA.

Submitted by a TestUstad contributor and published by the TestUstad editorial teamLast updated
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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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