Hippa - Wwyd?

[ilstu99]

This is the first time I've ever come across such a blatant issue, and I'm not sure how to handle it.

New admit to the NICU, and the mom apparently used to date one of my coworker's family members. The co-worker has some residual anger toward this parent, and speaks very unkindly of her ALL day. So today she says, Yeah, I was telling my spouse that Firstname Lastname has her babies in our unit, and that she was blah, blah, blah.....and her husband yadda, yadda...." The spouse asked the coworker all kinds of follow-up questions, to which the co-worker happily responded. This included info that the co-worker had read in the mom's chart (something she had no business accessing, since the mom isn't our patient, and the babies were never her patients).

I mean...come ON. Venting without personal info/names is one thing. Dumping all of a patient's info out at home is something different.

So...what do I do? I hate the tattle tale stuff, but if that were me or someone I cared about, I'd be MORE than livid.

[PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN]

Tell your manager. Or you could tell your HIPAA compliance officer if you have one.

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

I hate to say it but I would keep my mouth shut.

I do not agree or condone what this woman is saying or doing but no matter how much protection you get from the law people will find out it was you and feel animosity towards you.

It is better to just pull the person aside and discuss your issues with them. Tell her that you feel as if she has no right to blast such private information and that she should remember she is a professional who is here to work and maintain the privacy of the patient and family. Of course you should word it in a much nicer and fancier manner.

That is just what I would do. I do not like to bring things to the higher ups if I can fix it myself.

[Perpetual Student]

I agree with Happyloser. I'd definitely keep my mouth shut, except to potentially state to the coworker that she should at least be more discreet.

[AlabamaBelle]

As someone who has had their privacy violated, I take these matters extremely seriously. Try putting yourself in the mom's shoes - would you want this to happen you??

Your facility should have a compliance officer. At the very least, speak with your management. This co-worker had absolutely no right to do what she's doing. Who will be next? And, just for the "what ifs", what if this mom finds out what is going on (highly probable) - this could become a much more public problem with even more severe consequences for your co-worker and your facility.

In the end, only you can decide what you can live with.

Just my .

[EmmaG, RN]

I've been on the receiving end too.

If you don't feel comfortable going to the manager, you can make an anonymous report to your facility's compliance line.

[TazziRN, RN]

I have had my privacy violated too, but this was before HIPAA so I really didn't have a way to take care of it other than tell the person not to discuss my issues again. To make the matter worse, she was my NM!

I would say something to your NM or the compliance person. Since this was said out in the open there shouldn't be any reason for her to suspect you.

[squeakykitty]

This is the first time I've ever come across such a blatant issue, and I'm not sure how to handle it.

New admit to the NICU, and the mom apparently used to date one of my coworker's family members. The co-worker has some residual anger toward this parent, and speaks very unkindly of her ALL day. So today she says, Yeah, I was telling my spouse that Firstname Lastname has her babies in our unit, and that she was blah, blah, blah.....and her husband yadda, yadda...." The spouse asked the coworker all kinds of follow-up questions, to which the co-worker happily responded. This included info that the co-worker had read in the mom's chart (something she had no business accessing, since the mom isn't our patient, and the babies were never her patients).

I mean...come ON. Venting without personal info/names is one thing. Dumping all of a patient's info out at home is something different.

So...what do I do? I hate the tattle tale stuff, but if that were me or someone I cared about, I'd be MORE than livid.

Report her, since she blatantly violated HIPAA just to get back at someone. She was very unprofessional.

[zumalong]

THis nurse needs to be reported. That is why HIPPA was created even if we should act as professionals--just having her access chart should be against policy. Had another family member heard this--imagine what could happen. Had a situation one time when I had students on unit. They were receiving report and one nurse after another was complaining about this pt. Calling her all kinds of names etc.

Noticed my student was in corner trying not to cry. After report I asked her what was wrong. Turns out it was her Aunt they were talking about. The fact that this is a NICU and these babies have no recourse should give you enough push to not allow this to continue.