Is this a Hipaa Violation?

[JWEMT]

my friend has this on facebook.

‎@ Recovery- rape victim came in w/ lady partsl lasceration(= ripped; sry 4 da spelling), while intoxicated. i think da rapist should stil be charged da same amt nonetheless.

@ recovery rm- tuberculosis pt came from the OR. Used disinfectant tissue & gloves 4 t hold things, wipe down everything w/ alcohol pads, then used han sanitizer- over cautious 4 a nurse t b rn't i?

she also has her workplace and department posted.

at the very least, it is unprofessional

actually i just noticed there's a lot of post on the subject.

Im just wondering what I should do?

I don't work with her she's a clerk.

[PaddyCake]

I don't know if it is a HIPPA violation, but I do know that employees were fired from a hospital I live near for the same nonsense.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/02/facebook_posting_leads_to_dism.html

[Fribblet]

The original post said that it was a clerk- still unacceptable, in my opinion.

What is unacceptable (besides the grammar and spelling) is that this "clerk" refers to herself as a nurse.

[carolinachick]

Tell her to stop posting or you'd report her to management....she may not be aware of the consequences of her actions,explain to her that she'd be fired or could even face jail time

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

What is unacceptable (besides the grammar and spelling) is that this "clerk" refers to herself as a nurse.

I can't tell if the clerk was referring to herself as a nurse, or if the clerk was saying she thought the nurse was being over cautious.

[elkpark]

Hospital authorities might be well advised to issue specific warnings regarding the posting of information regarding their facilities and/or patients on the web. Nurses should be aware of such dangers because laws governing malpractice are part of their training, but the prohibitions regarding privacy must apply to all staff. It should be made clear enough so that none of them can plead ignorance.

It's already part of the (original) HIPAA rules/regs that employers are required to provide education to all employees about confidentiality/privacy requirements, and maintain the documentation that every employee has been informed. I would guess that the OP's friend has received education and warnings about this, but has chosen to disregard them. Some people just refuse to get the message until they suffer some kind of negative consequence ...

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

It's already part of the (original) HIPAA rules/regs that employers are required to provide education to all employees about confidentiality/privacy requirements, and maintain the documentation that every employee has been informed. I would guess that the OP's friend has received education and warnings about this, but has chosen to disregard them. Some people just refuse to get the message until they suffer some kind of negative consequence ...

Then I go along fully with others who have advised OP to report her.

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

I can't tell if the clerk was referring to herself as a nurse, or if the clerk was saying she thought the nurse was being over cautious.

she said a nurse 2 b.... which means she is planning on becoming a nurse