Did I make a violation?

rnsrgr8t · Jul 22, 2016

General rule of thumb, never talk about patients or their diagnoses (even if you think you are keeping them anonymous) on FB. I do not have where I work or where I live on my FB page. I do have that I am a PNP.

I work in pediatrics. The only thing I post about work is cute things some of the kids say ("I had a cute little girl today, when I asked her to put a gown on for me say, "A ball gown?") or a compliment a parent gives me ("Had a parent of one of my patients today tell me I have an excellent bedside manner!"). I sometimes post pictures of our therapy dogs that come through clinic (our hospital has an amazing volunteer program with them) but I make sure there is no patients in the picture.

BSN16 · Jul 22, 2016

While you didn't technically violate HIPAA because none of the information given could directly identify a patient...i make it rule to not post anything about my job or my patients on facebook.

I know that sometimes it's hard especially when it's positive things like this but :no:

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 22, 2016

I posted it in a private support group that I am in. I don't know anyone in the group.

You might *think* it's private but it's not. Nothing on the Internet is private. Someone may recognize your post, screen cap it & send it to your school or NM at the clinical site. I never posted anything specific about work online.

CupcakeHead · Jul 22, 2016

You might *think* it's private but it's not. Nothing on the Internet is private. Someone may recognize your post, screen cap it & send it to your school or NM at the clinical site. I never posted anything specific about work online.

I know. I'm actually concerned that she screen shot it before blocking me. But if you see in one of my previous posts, I do not have any school or location identified on my public Facebook profile. I recently scrubbed my page because I was applying for a job.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 22, 2016

I know. I'm actually concerned that she screen shot it before blocking me. But if you see in one of my previous posts, I do not have any school or location identified on my public Facebook profile. I recently scrubbed my page because I was applying for a job.

I hope nothing happens, since it was an innocent mistake.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2016

I think you are okay, but in the future, resist the urge to put anything at all about your patients on the internet. The benefit of doing so (and I really don't understand this tendency to put one's life and experiences on display all the time) just does not make it worth the risk.

CupcakeHead · Jul 22, 2016

I hope nothing happens, since it was an innocent mistake.

thanks. Lesson learned. I am just going to have to take to pen and paper to reflect and keep it under lock and key. Even when you think you are being safe, there is no such thing in this day and age.

Thabks for everyone's responses. I accept responsibility for my mistake. There is much room for interpretation of the law and it is better to error on the side of caution.

CupcakeHead

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Jul 23, 2016

Get off social media "groups" that can screen shot anything at all that you post.

Don't even allude to anything regarding nursing/your work on social media. It is the new red solo cup and keg no-no as of late.

As far as your page being "scrubbed clean" delete all of your stuff--don't just "hide" it. Nothing is hidden on the internet.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2016

Why why why would you do this? You need to keep your pie hole SHUT on social media for anything related to patients. And I do mean anything!!!

Hi all. Need some info. I feel confident that I didn't do anything wrong, but I just need clarification.
I made a post on facebook today about a patient that I took care of. I mentioned that it was a dementia patient who was nonverbal & bed-bound and how excited I was that she responded to me and spoke some words to me. I used no individually identifying information, made no reference to the hospital or room number that the patient was in, or where she was being transferred to. I mentioned that she had a daughter who basically ran out of the room when I asked if she wanted to feed her mother. Nor did I post any pictures of this patient.
A woman on the thread said that I had violated patient confidentiality. I really didn't think that I violated anything, but now I'm worried since I am 2 weeks from graduating.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 23, 2016

You did. I would suggest you take it down immediately and thank the person who gave you a heads up. In the future, keep your school and work experiences OFF facebook.

I'll second this.

Never, never, NEVER post anything from your job or your clinicals on FaceBook. It is all too easy to figure out which facility you work for, and therefore which patient it was. You goofed up big time.

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Jul 23, 2016

Why why why would you do this? You need to keep your pie hole SHUT on social media for anything related to patients. And I do mean anything!!!

If you read her posts on this thread, you will see that she has learned this lesson well.

smjgjab0721 · Jul 23, 2016

No I don't think you violated any rules but at the same time somethings from the Medical field is just not to be spoken about. You never know may be viewing your account. If they were to report you to the state board it would be a topic to make you rethink.