LTC Job Offer-but can't shadow RN???

50caliber · Mar 23, 2010

Whatever supervisor wants supervisor gets. You haven't singed on the dotted line yet. If you don't want them to change their minds about hiring you, then I go along with the supervisor. I think what you are requesting makes perfect sense and I would make a similar request as well. In this crap job market, you take what you can get.

They can easily find someone else to replace you so make sure this is what you want before challenging your future employer about this issue.

Good luck.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 23, 2010

I agree with supervisor. HIPAA law states if you do not have a need to know then you are not privileged to that information. An observer does not have a need to know. Another employee may not have a need to know. Nurse A caring for patient in Bed A does not need to know about who is in Bed B----

mmmc2 · Mar 23, 2010

I think they are hiding how crappy the job is. I would run as fast as I could from that job! You would probably end up with 30 pts. (or more) all by yourself. Probably be the only RN among LPNs. I don't care how bad the job market is, there is no use in killing yourself (which you will as a new/old grad) or risking your license and/or getting sued.

I shadowed a nurse for half a shift before accepting my current position (hospice, in-patient facility). In fact, my manager has all potential nurses shadow to see if it is what they want.

kcochrane · Mar 23, 2010

Most facilites allow shadowing. I would be a little hesitant about someone not allowing it and using HIPAA as a reason. There is no reason you can't sign a form we usually get as students stating you won't share info you obtain from shadowing. The RN could also request from each resident if it ok for you to help.

Worse case you start there and find out it is horrible..you can still quit.

buzkil · Mar 23, 2010

I agree with supervisor. HIPAA law states if you do not have a need to know then you are not privileged to that information. An observer does not have a need to know. Another employee may not have a need to know. Nurse A caring for patient in Bed A does not need to know about who is in Bed B----

What about students? I think this supervisor is a little off.

bwaheed · Mar 23, 2010

You can't shadow if your not employeed. There are privacy and confidentiality rules.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Mar 23, 2010

New Grad/Old Grad here. Today I get an offer for a LTC/Rehab Center in town. I ask if I can shadow an RN to see the flow (and cement my decision... Becuase the local hospital just put out ads for 4 new RN positions and I really really want to work there). Anyway, supervisor stated that I can only shadow an employee RN if I am an employee, due to HIPAA conditions.?????

Last time I was job-hunting, I did a lot of shadowing. I had to wear a nametag and sign a confidentiality statement.

kcochrane · Mar 23, 2010

This is all I could find at this point.

Q: One of the practices we value in the student application process to our program is the applicant "shadowing" a practicing professional in the community. Is this allowed under HIPAA?
A: Under certain circumstances, yes. First, is the student truly a University student, or is this something that is required as part of the application process?
If it is done through the University, the student would be functioning in a "trainee" capacity, included in the workforce under HIPAA. In other words, if I'm an HSC student shadowing a professional in Dr. Joe's office, I'm considered part of Dr. Joe's workforce in this capacity. Of course, I function under whatever rules that Dr. Joe says that I must, e.g., don't take any PHI with me, don't access PHI that I'm not entitled to in my job duties, etc.
Here is another example: I take my child to see a doctor (not an HSC doc), and a UT medical student accompanies the doctor into the exam room, introduces herself and asks my permission to observe the exam. The patient has the option of asking the student not to be there.
If the student is not yet an HSC student, Dr. Joe's office will definitely want to get him/her to sign a confidentiality acknowledgement and might want to get a specific patient authorization prior to allowing the student to observe patients.

I would find it hard to believe that major hospitals that put major emphasis on HIPAA would still continue shadowing if it was a violation of HIPAA.

elprup, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2010

thank you for the replies. The last, and my only RN job, I jumped into because the market was so bad, I felt like a failure because it did not work out in the small tiny rural town I moved to. I have since moved into a bigger small rural town and love it here. I will go tomorrow to my meeting with supervisor and do what I feel is best for me. Strangely, my situation is that I do not have to work - But I want to work, I didn't get my BSN for nothing. I'll let you know what happens. Thanks!

chaxanmom · Mar 23, 2010

You can't shadow if your not employeed. There are privacy and confidentiality rules.

Wrong. I did. Many hospitals do that.

David13, MSN, RN · Mar 24, 2010

In my opinion, the supervisor is almost certainly hiding something. Even if she is not hiding something, her knowledge of HIPAA is not complete and that is also a red flag in someone with the title "supervisor". Every job for which I have interviewed actively encouraged shadowing. Shadowing is an excellent tool for both the facility and the person being interviewed to determine if there will be a good fit.

As others have said, you can always take the job and quit if you find out it is awful. Personally, I would run as fast as I could away from this place NOW.