Did I break HIPAA?

Nurses HIPAA

Published

I was asked to resign from my internship today because of some things I posted on my Snapchat. Someone took pictures of my snap stories on someone else's phone so that I couldn't see who screenshotted my stories. I asked my boss what I was being fired for because I didn't think I broke HIPAA. My Snapchats had my face in them, with the hospital location. One of them said, "Help, I have four C. diff patients today." Another one stated, "Thank god my patient is restrained" (and in the following snap it showed my bruises and scrapes from my patient, which was not shown to my boss). The next one was of an RN and an MD facing away from me, it said: "When an RN has to teach an MD how to do their job." Their faces were not in the photo. When I asked my boss to explain to me how this violated HIPAA, she looked at me and yelled: "Are you kidding me." There were no patient names, room numbers, or faces. I understand that posting to social media was wrong, I really would wish for no negative comments as I have been beating myself up for this. Can someone please explain how I broke HIPAA.

Specializes in MDS/ UR.

HIPPA or not, you were terminated for poor judgement.

You doing a snap chat saga on your termination?

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HIPPA or not, I can't believe you think it was appropriate or OK to post something like that. I strongly advise that you avoid posting anything whatsoever to do with work on any form of social media ever again.

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While none of this is appropriate I believe the OP my have fallen for the idea that Snap Chats are private and disappear after a few minutes so safe to use. I work adolescent psych and tell my patients all the time that if you put something on social media it's there forever and will catch up to you sooner or later. Never post anything about work on any Social Media platform.

Hppy

Tough way to learn that NOTHING you post on the internet is private.

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Tough way to learn that NOTHING you post on the internet is private.

But alas many will NEVER learn.....

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Tough way to learn that NOTHING you post on the internet is private.

Personally I think the need to keep posting every single aspect of our lives to things like Facebook, snap chat, Instagram....etc is pretty childish. I expect it from adolescents but adult professionals trained in the fine art of critical thinking not so much.

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You said you had four c-diff patients, the place where you worked was clearly visible. Do you know how many c-diff patients that hospital had that day? No, you do not. The RN and MD did not consent to even their backs being on Snapchat and then you criticized their care which places the hospital at a liability.

Then you expressed how you were "glad" your patient was restrained.

Not only did you deserve to be fired, you really need to consider getting out of healthcare if this is your attitude. Keep it up and you won't be able to find a job at all. These people are patients and other healthcare professionals are your colleagues and don't deserve your treatment.

Delete your Snapchat and start over with a new Facebook, delete your old one, and take a class on exercising self-control. Your desire to broadcast your social life is going to be the death of your career.

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Personally I think the need to keep posting every single aspect of our lives to things like Facebook, snap chat, Instagram....etc is pretty childish. I expect it from adolescents but adult professionals trained in the fine art of critical thinking not so much.

I agree 100% - I have zero social media accounts, and will only send something online to people I trust, and even then it is never about work or derogatory of another person/place.

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Oh but but but......they all cry "please no negative comments" while they try to a. Justify their actions b. Backpeddle the severity of their actions c. Ask for forgiveness for their actions.

So stupid and ignorant. In their narrow-focused little eyes (and minds), It's fine to post all that to Fakebook, Scagchat, Instacrap and Twit-err, to cause a laugh at innocent victims with their silly little friends. But God forbid, they get called on it (and rightly so) and It's "OMG, I'm so sorry, please no negative comments."

Stupid deserves to be called out (and thrown out).

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
Personally I think the need to keep posting every single aspect of our lives to things like Facebook, snap chat, Instagram....etc is pretty childish. I expect it from adolescents but adult professionals trained in the fine art of critical thinking not so much.

Amen! I gave up all social media very shortly into my career 12 years ago and have never returned. I saw too many people doing ignorant stuff like this and didn't want to get pulled into it. I have no sympathy at all for the OP, because even if she/he is a brand spanking new nurse at the age of early 20s, she should still know better just as most of us did who grew up in the social media era.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

Curious to know the OP's reaction to all these comments...

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I was told that I violated Hipaa but I'm not sure. Here's what happened. I was at work where all my patients share a room-2 pts/per room. I was with pt A and pt B in a room when pt A reports to me that her IV hurts. I assessed her IV in front of pt B and informed pt A it looked like it infiltrated. I told pt A I would replace her IV. This delayed pt B's treatment and a little while later I found pt B complaining to another staff member in a different area of the hospital. In my attempt to explain the situation (pt B having to wait a long time for tx) I stated to the other staff member who knew both patient A and B " Pt A's IV infiltrated and it put me really behind as I had a tough time getting her resited". I did reference pt A by first name and I said this in front of pt B thinking since pt B was already privy to this information regarding pt A, it couldn't be a hipaa violation since pt A and B had been in a room together and the information was known between them both.

Is this a hipaa Violation? I haven't had the meeting yet with management to discuss this but was advised to not explain myself and to simply accept whatever they say and tell them I'll work on improving rather than defend myself by detailing what happened.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

Sorry I just realized this was posted on someone elses thread. I can't see how or where to go to start a new thread of my own.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
I really would wish for no negative comments[/Quote]

Uff da.... so you announce what could be perceived as an outbreak. You express gratitude that you were able to tie a confused elder down to protect yourself... I mean getting hit isn't fun... but to say "thank God she's in restraints?!!??" Are you serious?? -- especially since your focus is on your injuries and not on the care of this poor woman. (my grandma had dementia, although she never became violent. But had I learned that something like THAT was posted online, I would be out for blood.)

And beyond cringe-worthy, you AS AN INTERN thought joking about this this MD's competence was acceptable behavior?? And on top of that, taking their picture without them agreeing to it??? I'm actually very embarrassed for you.

I'm not sure what kind of positive comments you're expecting?? Sometimes there truly isn't anything positive that can be said.

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