Did I break HIPAA?

Nurses HIPAA

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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 Varied.

HIPPA violation, probably not. Inappropriate, absolutely. You ask for no "negative" comments but that's the kind of karma you set yourself up for. Regardless of how many bruises or scratches you had, you should NEVER suggest you're "glad" someone is placed in restraints.

Did you learn the lesson here? What was the lesson you took away from this experience?

I have a sinking suspicion it's not the one that is should be learned. While social media isn't the place for comments like yours, it's not the root of the problem. The root of the problem is your nasty attitude towards patients, colleagues, and superiors. You need to consider yourself lucky and take some time to reflect on improving.

So the OP is a one post hit and run. Not so sure I believe this even happened.

If someone in the hospital was connected with you on your social media account and reported you on the same day, then obviously they could deduce who you were caring for, regardless of whether you used patient identifiers.

You placed the facility at risk for publicly questioning a co workers competence.

You're probably lucky said co worker isn't out for some serious blood regarding your appalling lack of judgement.

You show serious lack of self awareness/horrendous attitude in your actions. Harsh comments are pretty much what you need to get it through your head your actions were unacceptable on multiple levels.

Learn from this. Or you'll screw yourself with ANY job, in ANY field if you continue to do such stupid things. Most every employer has strict social media rules...and that includes NOT posting identifiable or negative info abouts its business or its employees.

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

If I had seen that post I would know that: 1. The hospital is riddled with C-diff. 2. The MDs are incompetent and have to be taught by nurses. 3. It's a good day when someone is placed in restraints.

If I was deciding where to seek care, I would have a very negative impression of that hospital. In a few succinct posts, you made it sound like a pit.

After a very bad experience a few years ago, I post absolutely nothing on social media about my job. As far as I might go is "I had a good day." I don't even have where I work listed on my social media profile, nor do I friend any co workers on my social media pages. I actually go as far as to block any current co workers from being able to find me on social media. I trust no one on social media. My employer has a pretty strict social media policy and my guess is you that you were in violation of your employer's social media policy.

I think you should check your employment handbook on policy about photos and electronic data disclosure breach. I find that some fellow coworkers in the hospital/clinical setting forget dignity for patient and others, empathy and general privacy practice as a medical so called professional. Best rule is not to do anything that could come in question and leave your work at work. Termination was just a favor you should have been put in jail and any license you have revoked for reckless behavior.

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