Friend of patient's sister

[Danielle19]

Hello,

Nursing student here! I was recently on a psych floor and as I was talking with a patient, I realized that I knew this patient's sister. I wanted to reach out and tell him that, but I didn't because I thought that would be breaking HIPAA.

His sister saw that I was doing a psych rotation on FB and said that if I run into him, I should let him know that I'm a friend, because he feels like everyone is out to get him there. I would remind him that everything he tells me is confidential. I would never share his phi with his sister.

I remember being a patient at one point and one of the nurses told me that she knew my father. I remember it being comforting.

I just want to know if this is breaking any rules?

[Emergent, RN]

Your should always err on the side of detached concern, especially as a student. As a student you are primarily there are to learn. It's best to play by the book when you're learning. Be as professional as possible. Keep it impersonal. It's not a Social Hour you are there in it therapeutic capacity, and also you are there to learn.

Don't indulge yourself in familiarity. For one thing, you are totally inexperienced. Be aware of that.

[egglady, LPN]

Stop posting anything nurse, nursing school, or job related on FB.

[cocoa_puff]

The real question should be, why did you post that you're doing your psych rotation at that specific facility on Facebook? That just seems to be asking for trouble.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Your should always err on the side of detached concern, especially as a student.

And especially when it comes to psych.

[Armygirl7]

Stop posting anything nurse, nursing school, or job related on FB.

THIS!

Nothing, zero, nada about your student or professional doings on FB.

Also since every person is different (like if I was a pt, I personally would be paranoid and uncomfortable if I found out you knew my family!!) so as a student or a professional better to be circumspect, it isn't therapeutic so leave it off.

Good luck!

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Stop posting anything nurse, nursing school, or job related on FB.

This is one of the best pieces of advice that you could be given. I never mention work on Facebook, even in a general sense. People have been fired from jobs because of what they have posted.

[Wiggly Litchi]

Mentioning stuff on Facebook is so dangerous - there's been countless stories of terminations of healthcare professionals in the past because they've over shared. I remember one nurse who'd posted a pic of an empty trauma room and got fired for it, even though there was no identifying information in the post, no pt/pt name etc.

When I'm at work, if I know the relative of my pt, I don't mention it -at all-. Some may find that knowing that your nurse/aide etc is familiar with your family is comforting, but not all pts will find that's the case (I'm one of those in the latter).

Protect yourself from possible HIPAA violations - don't post about it, where you are, what you're doing etc, and don't link your pts to their family members unless they specifically mention it. If they don't mention it, consider it totally off the table - it leads down the slippery slope of "Well if they know my sister/mother/brother/cousin etc, what are they telling them about my care?"

Go by the CARE principle - Cover orifice, Retain Employment