Me, Myself, and HIPPA

hollyster · Mar 10, 2005

I need advice from all of you that are more familiar with HIPPA than I am.
I just started my first clinical rotation and have a few questions.
How much about my patient can I say to my family? When they ask how my day went can I say "well, i had a 70yr old w/ pneumonia who was here on vacation, and ended up in the ER. It was really interesting cuase he had no breath sounds on the right and tons of crackles. And he had a really interesting scar from heart surgery."
Is that too much info? I like to be able to share my experiences with my family since they are supporting me through school.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Jessica, AASNS

You can share anything that does not disclose the pts identity. No names(pts or family members.) No remember the man who fixed the fridge last year? I saw him or his wife,son,etc. today. Ask for a copy of the HIPPA statement from the facility you are at and familarize yourself with the guidlines so that you can avoid the gray areas.

We all share our "war stories." No one could expect you not to.

Just respect the pts privacy and stay in the guidelines.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Mar 10, 2005

Guess i'm the stick in the mud.

I don't discuss my pts. with my family.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 10, 2005

I have vented when things were very bad w/the dh. But never have I given him ID or specifics enough to know to whom I was referring. I keep things as generic as I do here. NO names and NO true specifics.

elkpark · Mar 10, 2005

I agree with Marie. The less info shared, the better, IMO. Surely you can find ways to show your appreciation for your family's support besides telling them details about your patients -- most of which, I would guess, they would not understand or be esp. interested in, anyway (unless they are also healthcare professionals of some sort). Is there a reason why your family members need to know any detailed info about your patients? Is that really anything other than gossip, and would you want to be gossiped about if you were in the hospital?

Just because you would not get in trouble with the law for sharing some info (i.e., without names or other specific identifiers), that doesn't mean that it's a great idea to share it ...

tiredfeetED · Mar 10, 2005

Sounds like your like what your learning...What you described wont get you in trouble..No names, say 70ish and be general nothing that could be traced to single person. Its funny my fiance stated one day that i did not tell her that her uncle was in the ED, and i said your right I didnt...Not my place to tell you.

goodknight · Mar 10, 2005

I figured that the less said is better.

I guess the reason we talk about it is just curiosity. they get real excited with what I'm learning, and I like to explain the reasons for treatments and the basics of drugs, labs, and diagnosises.

So What I'm saying is that I will sensor what I say more. Say less. talk more about the book classes.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Mar 10, 2005

Great article about students and HIPPA:

Protecting Patient Privacy re new HIPAA rules

sarita279 · Mar 10, 2005

I agree with Marie. The less info shared, the better, IMO. Surely you can find ways to show your appreciation for your family's support besides telling them details about your patients -- most of which, I would guess, they would not understand or be esp. interested in, anyway (unless they are also healthcare professionals of some sort). Is there a reason why your family members need to know any detailed info about your patients? Is that really anything other than gossip, and would you want to be gossiped about if you were in the hospital?
Just because you would not get in trouble with the law for sharing some info (i.e., without names or other specific identifiers), that doesn't mean that it's a great idea to share it ...

I really don't understand what is so wrong with sharing an interesting diagnosis with family. Of course I would keep out identifying information. I imagine that once I am a nurse, I won't have the need to tell my family or boyfriend about things I see so much. HOwever, as a student I find that I really LEARN when I am able to share those things I learn with those I care about.

I know that I am a better learner, and hopefully I'll be a better nurse, if I am allowed to reflect on my experiences with others.

NurseFirst · Mar 10, 2005

When I was doing clinicals I had a patient that was a priest in a faith related to mine. He had many of his parishoners visiting, one of whom worked at the hospital--who asked me how he was doing. I said, I can't tell, you will have to ask him. Subsequently, that patient asked me about the other person in his room--again, I had to say--I can't tell you; you will have to ask him. Granted, I am sure his interest was of a "spiritual" type, but, sorry--I cannot tell you. And, then, in discussing different people, one of the parishioners asked me where I worshipped. I told her and she mentioned that someone of their faith came to my church; she described this person, who I recognized. Of course, the next time I saw that person in Church, I could not tell her that I had seen her priest, either.

Sometimes it's hard!!!!

NurseFirst

zacarias, ASN, RN · Mar 11, 2005

If you said, "Guess who I saw guys, Jack Smith from the corner gas station. Yeah, he's had a bad winter. Oh guess what, did you know he had heart surgery back in the day?", That would not be cool, but otherwise you're fine as long as they can't identify the person. :)

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2005

I do it too. I talk to my family about my day if I have a particularly interesting (or hard) shift. But merely not disclosing the pt's name may not be enough. Around Christmastime, we admitted a baby to my NICU whose birth and first few hours of life were so ridiculously phenomenal that I knew that if the media found out, it would be all over the news as a feel-good Christmas story. So even though I would never have told anyone the baby's or parents' names, I sort of felt like I should be careful who I told because what if my family member took it upon themself to tell the media (even though he/she didn't know the whole story)? Then when the media came sniffing around it may still get traced to me. And even though I didn't actually give any names, I wouldn't think my management would take that lightly and I have a hunch that it would still be grounds for termination for a HIPPA violation.