Nurses letting other nurses chart on their account

[DQstatus]

Does anyone know why it's illegal for nurses to let other nurses chart while they are logged in?

I saw my nurse have her friend nurse come chart while she was logged in.

Thanks

Any nurse can chart on any patient... so long as the charting accurately reflects assessments and actions of the nurse doing the charting.

[Katama3]

It's a HIPPA violation for anyone who is not assigned to that patient to see that patient's records. I know of a nurse that had a patient on a regular basis on a pediatrics ward. When her patient got to be a certain age, he then attended the adult unit. She went to visit him there to see how he was doing and looked in his chart. He was not her patient at the time.. Though she had the best of intentions, she was fired, and appropriately so. I know that we are talking about charting for someone else's patient, rather than "looking", but nonetheless, one has to"look" in order to chart, I would think. Bottom line, anyone not assigned to that patient should not be in their chart, regardless of intention.

It's a HIPPA violation for anyone who is not assigned to that patient to see that patient's records. Bottom line, anyone not assigned to that patient should not be in their chart, regardless of intention.

Not quite... it's a HIPAA violation for anybody without a legitimate reason... if I'm walking by the room and find something which requires my intervention, I chart it... and legitimately so. That is *not* a HIPAA violation.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

It's a HIPPA violation for anyone who is not assigned to that patient to see that patient's records. I know of a nurse that had a patient on a regular basis on a pediatrics ward. When her patient got to be a certain age, he then attended the adult unit. She went to visit him there to see how he was doing and looked in his chart. He was not her patient at the time.. Though she had the best of intentions, she was fired, and appropriately so. I know that we are talking about charting for someone else's patient, rather than "looking", but nonetheless, one has to"look" in order to chart, I would think. Bottom line, anyone not assigned to that patient should not be in their chart, regardless of intention.

There are plenty of reasons why a nurse who is not assigned to a patient would need to look in his chart and it is perfectly reasonable for nurses to do that. Have you never helped a colleague? If you were in a double room and you knew Suzy was busy with another patient and her patient who shared a room with your patient asked if he was able to have tylenol, would you not look at his chart to check? He is not your patient but it is perfectly legitimate for you to check his chart here.

And, it's HIPAA... The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

[Isis Phoenix]

Addendum: Charting for another nurse

This problem should be addressed via the facility's policy manual, and also a bulletin to be displayed conspicuously, then everyone will know it is not legal to chart for a colleague. However, if a nurse has assessed, and rendered care to a patient who is assigned to a colleague of hers, then she need to chart what she has done, and add her signature.

E.g Patient B is assigned to Nurse M, however while she was in another room attending to a very sick patient....Patient B fell in the hallway ...the aide notified the charge nurse;knowing that Nurse M is busy looking after a very sick patient ...she assessed patient B, rendered first aid, notified the MD.,received orders via telephone, and implemented the orders then she charted, and signed patient B's chart...she also notified Nurse M about the occurrence, and what she has done...in order for her to do the follow up assessment.

Scenario: It is not her patient, but since Nurse M did not render care...the charge nurse had to write, and signed the nurse’s note, because legally she is responsible.