What's his blood sugar?

Alisonisayoshi, LVN · Jan 2, 2016

I don't know the answer. I don't. I'm curious to hear opinions on it. As a diabetic I am rather protective of my numbers, and do view them and how they trend as private. My friends and family are well aware, so they most likely wouldn't ask a nurse my numbers EVER. In the hospital, I check my own sugar with the hospitals meter as well as my own, as mine feeds info to my pump. So no nurse would ever be inclined to say my number out loud. When I test pts blood sugar, I generally first give them the option to do it themselves if they are capable, and because of how private I am, that bleeds over and I simply show them the reading rather than say it aloud or make any comment about it unless they ask.

loriangel14, RN · Jan 2, 2016

I wouldn't share with anyone except the patient and the POA. You can't tell anyone else unless the patient gives the ok.

offlabel · Jan 3, 2016

I wouldn't share with anyone except the patient and the POA. You can't tell anyone else unless the patient gives the ok.

Perhaps according to the letter of the law, but "violations" are one thing, judgments against persons or institutions are wholly another. If something like that were truly able to be successfully prosecuted, you'd have to throw a sheet over the monitors in a patients room so visitors couldn't see them.

loriangel14, RN · Jan 3, 2016

Our wall mounted ones in the rooms can be angled so it's not facing the other people.

offlabel · Jan 3, 2016

Our wall mounted ones in the rooms can be angled so it's not facing the other people.

Like the staff taking care of the patient? HIPPA isn't so someone doesn't put grandma's O2 sat on Facebook. It's to prevent entire medical records from being used in a way that compromises the provision of medical care in some way. It certainly is not supposed to disrupt care.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 3, 2016

Question as a new grad RN. When I was in NS, I experienced this...Say the RN or a tech are checking blood sugars and there is a friend or family member in the room and that person asks "so what's his/her blood sugar?" or without even being asked, the nurse or tech taking the BG says "your blood sugar is 200"...

... after what there is always the same question: "Is it good?"

After what you realize that you may say just about anything - they have absolutely no idea either way :roflmao:

MrChicagoRN, RN · Jan 9, 2016

Question as a new grad RN. When I was in NS, I experienced this...Say the RN or a tech are checking blood sugars and there is a friend or family member in the room and that person asks "so what's his/her blood sugar?" or without even being asked, the nurse or tech taking the BG says "your blood sugar is 200"...
It would be a no brainer to just answer the question, but it seems to me that could and would be a violation of HIPPA without asking the patient, assuming they were A&O, for permission first?

Actually the no brainer is that, with few exceptions, the information is only shared with the patient.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Jan 9, 2016

If the family is at the bedside just ask the patient if it is OK. If the family corners you outside that's a different matter. Or show the patient and let them tell the family.

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Jan 9, 2016

I work in LTC and most of the time the family member there is the POA. Yet, when I am not sure who is with the resident, I will just show them the monitor so they can see the number. The ones I do it on have their mental capabilities so it works now.

kakamegamama · Jan 16, 2016

....and....it is HIPAA, not HIPPA........I know, I know, but it is important.....

FloridaRN123 · Jan 17, 2016

....and....it is HIPAA, not HIPPA........I know, I know, but it is important.....

Are you serious right now? It was a typo. Give me a break and find something better to do with your time.