Death of a patient

[freckles23]

Just curious what your policy is on telling family about death of a loved one? I know the doctor will call the POA but is it okay as the nurse to tell other family members/friends that may call on the phone about the loved ones status? Or what about when they come in person? What do you say? I dont know if there is some hippa violation about that and how would you know who is okay to tell and who isnt about the death? I am a new grad whose patient passed and there was a discrepancy between the family members where the POA was called but the rest of the family was in the dark about the passing and they came in to see the patient and she was already gone and it was difficult situation and I didnt know if it was alright to say your loved one passed or to leave it up to the doctor to talk to the family?