Have you ever had a co-worker announce your private case information at work?

[Elsarap]

Announcing the details of a co-worker's psych history is ignorant and rude.

The details of someone's psych information should not be treated like a police record.

Most people seem to think someone with a history of mental breakdowns or

psychotic illness has something wrong with their, "I.Q." and think nothing of being

rude to them.

They imagine them to be chronic liars or idiots.

In reality, some of them are more dependable than

some, "normal," people are.

I was at work in the nursing home one day, and most

of the people on the shift that day were at the nursing station doing their charts.

Then this woman who was a CNA made an announcement about one of her co-workers

that made her look like an diot.

"She said some guy could read her mind."

Anyone who does not have the mind of a third-grader

could figure out that this is a piece of private health information.

In reality, the staff-member who was the victim of this rudeness

had confided this information to her friends at least

two decades into the past asked them not to gossip and they

gave her a reputation and made her look like some sort of a jerk.

A visitor there made some snide comment that sounded like it came from a third-grader and she had to have

two staff-members explain to her that this is a piece of private health information.

I think that aide who made that announcement in front of her co-workers should have been written up.

The things you know about your co-workers should not be used for entertainment purposes.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

"Then this woman who was a CNA made an announcement about one of her co-workers

that made her look like an diot.

"She said some guy could read her mind."

Anyone who does not have the mind of a third-grader

could figure out that this is a piece of private health information."

Truly, I cannot understand your post or your point.

Someone's ability to read minds is private health information?

[gr8rnpjt, RN]

Please elaborate.

OK I read the link. If I am understanding correctly, the person being talked about had a history of schizophrenia and while she was still ill, had said someone was reading her mind (indicating she felt others could read her thoughts.)

So I understand what you are saying and perhaps it was a jump to conclude that at one time the person had schizophrenia. But it was not nice. I am not sure it would be something to rise to the level of breaching patient confidentiality and violating HIPAA.

[elkpark]

If she chose to disclose this information about herself to others and they shared it with others, I would see that as a personal issue/conflict between friends/acquaintances -- nothing to do with work. I agree that the behavior is ignorant and rude, but I don't see how it's anything more than that.

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

Are you the person who was talked about? Because if its not you, does she know you are posting her business on allnurses and making a website about it?

[diane227, LPN, RN]

I am not sure I understand this post. If a person accessed your medical record at work then they committed a violation of hospital policy because all hospitals mandate that records are not to be accessed unless required for care of that patient. If you told someone about your history then you made that information public. Never expect anyone in the workplace to ever keep any information you give them a secret.

[Zookeeper3]

I honestly, not being nasty have NO , no idea what your are saying

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

THis is not something we can address here at AN. Take care.