Does relatives who look in patients charts annoy you

[meme39]

I was working a late shift one day. I was busy handing out medications in a four bed room when one of the patients relative told me that I was late giving the medication out. She had been looking in the patients chart. I gently told her through gritted teeth that I was giving the medication when the patient had eaten his meal. She then proceded to tell me that she was a nurse herself. Has this happened to anyone else I would love to hear about it.

Kind regards.:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I always looked in charts if I was visiting relatives in hospital, I just cant help myself. :imbar After permission, and only if it is close relative. I wouldnt pick up late medication and question the nurse, I would have more respect. After all we all know that we can be late with medication dont we.

[Wise Woman RN]

We keep the charts behind the desk at the nurses station. Privacy laws require that the charts not be available to anyone not involved with the patients care. If that person was a nurse, she should have known better than to check the chart. It would have made me a little mad to know that she had done that.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

In the UK they are kept at the bottom of the pts bed, pts have a right to be involved in care planning in the UK. They dont see the medical notes but other info-they are.

[fergus51]

I would point out that if she was a nurse she should be aware of Hipaa! I would even consider reporting her to the BON. She has no right to go through a patient's chart. That is inexcusable here.

[jmgrn65, RN]

I was working a late shift one day. I was busy handing out medications in a four bed room when one of the patients relative told me that I was late giving the medication out. She had been looking in the patients chart. I gently told her through gritted teeth that I was giving the medication when the patient had eaten his meal. She then proceded to tell me that she was a nurse herself. Has this happened to anyone else I would love to hear about it.

Kind regards.:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

I would have gently reminded her that there is a law HIPPA that she should be aware of and that she would know she isn't to do that and if caught there is a very hefty fine, supposedly of 50,000 dollars. Then I wouldn't keep the chart anywhere near the patients room.

[fergus51]

In the UK they are kept at the bottom of the pts bed, pts have a right to be involved in care planning in the UK. They dont see the medical notes but other info-they are.

Patients have that same right here, but random relatives do not. I've had this issue come up in NICU. We keep our charts at the bedside and parents have the right to look at them. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbours, etc. do not and I've had to remove a few charts in my time.

[catlady, BSN, RN]

I would point out that if she was a nurse she should be aware of Hipaa! I would even consider reporting her to the BON. She has no right to go through a patient's chart. That is inexcusable here.

The OP is in Australia, where I don't think the tentacles of American health law have quite spread. But, true, the visitor still should not have the right to go poking through the chart, unless the patient has given permission.

[fergus51]

The OP is in Australia, where I don't think the tentacles of American health law have quite spread. But, true, the visitor still should not have the right to go poking through the chart, unless the patient has given permission.

Thanks, I didn't notice.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I guess I was naughty then but as it was my mother and I know she was being badly neglected I didnt care. But really relatives do check out anything hanging at the bedside but they have to ask the patients permission. If the pt feels uncomfortable they normally tell the nurse and we remove the charts to the nurses station, but to be honest all that is there is ob's chart, diabetic charts and meds chart, so nothing too wonderful

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

Most times I get that "well, I am a nurse" only to find out they are a CNA or not really a nurse...but oh well...

I would have told her that she should know better than to see a pts private records without following the protocol and I certainly would have let my charge nurse know and documented this!

And also, if she is a nurse...she should know that you have the right to change the times on a medication that is not a MD mandated order on time given...so therefore you could have easily changed the order in front of her to be 'in the best interest of the pts eating schedule with these medications". Also, most facilities have time limits on when you can give...I had an hour either way in ALF, 30 minutes either way at hospital.

I have actually changed a time on an order in front of a family member for that very reason stating...these are routine times that are put on the MAR automatically, and it is in my scope to change these according to pt needs and scheduling conflicts to help with Individual Pt Care.". Trust me, took a bit of wind out of their sails. But be very careful...sometimes this causes more pain then it is worth...so choose that battle well! (I happened to know my pts and their family quite well after 4 years...so I knew pretty much how they would react).

[bethin]

I would point out that if she was a nurse she should be aware of Hipaa! I would even consider reporting her to the BON. She has no right to go through a patient's chart. That is inexcusable here.

I agree. She needs to be reported as this is a HIPPA violation. I would be infuriated if someone read my chart! That is private information.