Nursing student HIPAA VIOLATION! Help

[Reagan2010]

I'm currently a first semester nursing student and just started clinicals. Yesterday was my first actual day of clinical and we are learning the software at the hospital. On our software it is so confusing and so much to view at one time. We were trained on the general information on HIPAA laws and I was trying to be careful not to access someone's record I wasn't supposed to but wanted to see the different features specifically in searching a patient. I don't know why it seems so stupid now but I figured if I searched mine it was more safe than trying to access a certain patient in different ways and end up seeing someones information I wasn't supposed to. After playing around with the software on my record I realized this could possibly be against hospital policy. I logged off quickly and I feel so bad and I'm so scared I'll get kicked out. Should I go ahead and bring it to my institutions attention? I know that it's tracked but it really was an honest mistake and I feel horrible! I just thought it was the safest way since I already have my records and now I'm sick to my stomach. I'm so sad I've been thinking about it since yesterday

[emmjayy, BSN, RN]

Not a HIPAA violation per se, but at my school they told us the first day that under no circumstances were we allowed to look up our own medical records in the system. If we wanted access, we needed to go through the same procedure that any other patient would. It sounds like you didn't get that talk at all, though. I'd bring it up to an instructor, it sounds like a knowledge gap that is not your fault.

[mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I]

At our hospital accessing our own medical record is clearly defined as a HIPPA violation in our policy. You have to go through medical records to do such. I have seen nurses fired for this offense over the years.

[Reagan2010]

I wonder if the amount of times accessed and how long they spent on there comes into consideration. I'm planning to make an appt and tell them Monday. I'm just upset because I've worked so hard to get to this point there is no way it was done maliciously or intended in any way but I know when it comes to HIPAA it doesn't matter. I would've never done it had I known. There was nothing to gain, I already have and know everything about my records

[bjwojcik]

We are all pulling for you.

[bjwojcik]

I hope everything went ok.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

At our hospital accessing our own medical record is clearly defined as a HIPPA violation in our policy. You have to go through medical records to do such. I have seen nurses fired for this offense over the years.

Your hospital doesn't determine what a HIPAA violation is. HIPAA is a federal law. It may very well be a violation of hospital policy but it is not a violation of HIPAA.

[Reagan2010]

I am still in the program, everything is fine thank yall for all the help!

[bjwojcik]

Thank Goodness!

[paigeNS]

Hello there! I am actually a fellow nursing student. This is, in fact, a HIPPA violation sadly. Even though it is you patient file, they are still the hospitals records and you should only access them through your patient accessibility. I know this seems silly, but it's just the law; however, I'm sure that if all you were doing was quickly glancing over it, then I'm sure everything is fine. I'm not sure how strict your program is, but mine would never know I logged in to see my information unless they went looking for it under suspicion, but reporting it to your instructor is a good idea. I wouldn't fret too much over this! :)

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

Hello there! I am actually a fellow nursing student. This is, in fact, a HIPPA violation sadly. Even though it is you patient file, they are still the hospitals records and you should only access them through your patient accessibility. I know this seems silly, but it's just the law; however, I'm sure that if all you were doing was quickly glancing over it, then I'm sure everything is fine. I'm not sure how strict your program is, but mine would never know I logged in to see my information unless they went looking for it under suspicion, but reporting it to your instructor is a good idea. I wouldn't fret too much over this! :)

No, it's not a HIPAA violation. It's bad form, probably against hospital policy, but not HIPAA.

It is not a violation per se, given the employee is accessing his or her own PHI. It is common practice, though, to prohibit employees from looking up their own records. Many covered entities require employees to request access to their own medical records in the same manner as any other patient

Q&A: Accessing your own information - www.hcpro.com

And it's two A's - not two P's.

[OcMurse93]

No, it's not a HIPAA violation. It's bad form, probably against hospital policy, but not HIPAA.

Q&A: Accessing your own information - www.hcpro.com

And it's two A's - not two P's.

Just goes to show- check your facts (and spelling). lol

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Hello there! I am actually a fellow nursing student. This is, in fact, a HIPPA violation sadly. Even though it is you patient file, they are still the hospitals records and you should only access them through your patient accessibility. I know this seems silly, but it's just the law; however, I'm sure that if all you were doing was quickly glancing over it, then I'm sure everything is fine. I'm not sure how strict your program is, but mine would never know I logged in to see my information unless they went looking for it under suspicion, but reporting it to your instructor is a good idea. I wouldn't fret too much over this! :)

This is 100% false. HIPAA specifically grants you the right to access your own information. Your hospital may have a policy stating that you cannot search for your own records within their system through your role as a nurse and may need to go through medical records; however, it is very clearly not a violation of HIPAA.

Also HIPAA is an acronym for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.