Hi everyone!! :) I have a few more questions as I am getting ready for NCLEX.
As far as HIPPA rules go and patient confidentiality, say a husband is in the hospital and his wife calls and wants to know how he is doing, can we give this info. over the phone? What about if she comes to see him... can we tell her of his medical status?? What about another family member like a brother or sister?? Can we share this info. with other family members?? We cannot divulge info. to friends, though, right??
As far as consent, in reference to minors, as long as they are under 18, you have to have parental consent for a procedure, right? I know if they are pregnant, that negates it and the minor can then speak for themselves.
One thing I have never been able to understand: the majority of patients are alert and oriented and fully able to state how they are doing, what the doctor said, what treatment they are getting, etc. Why the heck don't these concerned family members and friends just call the patient or the spouse and leave the nurse out of it? We have enough to do nursing the patient without all these phone calls that take us away from doing that.
If I get a call from a family member and the patient is awake, alert, and oriented, I do not hesitate to transfer the call to the patient so they can have a conversation. Unfortunately, many patients in the ICU are unable to do that, so that's few and far between for me!
Reno1978, BSN, RN
1,133 Posts
If I get a call from a family member and the patient is awake, alert, and oriented, I do not hesitate to transfer the call to the patient so they can have a conversation. Unfortunately, many patients in the ICU are unable to do that, so that's few and far between for me!