Patient freaking out

[alcrab01]

This is really a HIPAA question, but I knew if I put that in the title no one would read it, haha! I work on a small psychiatric unit and when I pass out medications in the evening I go up to each patient and quietly say, (for example) "This is the Celexa 20mg that Dr. Smith ordered." I do this for safety reasons.

Tonight, one of my patients freaked out on me and started screaming that I was breaking confidentiality laws and that she was going to sue me, etc. etc. etc. I offered to take her to a private area to discuss her medications, but she was already on the rampage and refused. Anyway, I'm wondering... is she right? Are the names of medications protected under HIPAA?

[soulofme]

I was always afraid to work in a psych unit...I knew they would try to keep me at the end of the day...I fit in too easily:lghmky:

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

I get along better with seriously mentally ill adults than my peers, LOL

Oh how true....

[leslie :-D]

Oh how true....

me too, viking.

i was kicked out of my psych rotation (on the locked unit) in school.

too much 'enabling', she said.

leslie

[Vito Andolini]

I think the name of the med should be kept confidential under HIPAA. Just like the name of a diagnosis.

To avoid a replay of this, just say, "Here's your medicine" and let the patient take it from there.

[alcrab01]

"To avoid a replay of this, just say, "Here's your medicine" and let the patient take it from there."

Oh, that's not a good idea. Well, maybe if I added, "Do you have any questions about it?" or "Do you know what it is and why you are taking it?"

My patients needs to know what they are taking and why. The "why" part is explained daily by our resident psychiatrist. The "what" part is explained every time any medication is given to them. It is very important, especially for psychiatric patients, to be educated about their medications. All too often, as a psych patient establishes a regular medication regimen and starts to feel better they say, "Oh, I'm fine now. I don't need these pills anymore."

That's when they come to my facility. After they take themselves off their medications, lose their jobs, get kicked out of housing, and start self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. I'm not trying to over-generalize here, I'm just speaking from my perspective based on the patient population in my facility. So, this kind of turned into my rant of the day, haha

[shelly304]

TiredMD- Hahaha this is very true. Afterall, this is a woman who washes out her Doritos bags with soap and water before she throws them away! And in case anyone complains about my lack of sensitivity- shame on both of us!

What...you mean everyone doesn't wash out their Doritos Bag after they have finished?

Oh my..

[Thankful RN,BSN]

sorry, but i would ignore her while i get her some ativan ivp. she's crazy after all. and i am being serious!

[leslie :-D]

sorry, but i would ignore her while i get her some ativan ivp. she's crazy after all. and i am being serious!

i'm curious...

why do you say she's crazy?

because she perceived her rights to privacy being violated?

i'm serious, i'm lost here.

what makes her crazy?

leslie

[Thankful RN,BSN]

i'm curious...

why do you say she's crazy?

because she perceived her rights to privacy being violated?

i'm serious, i'm lost here.

what makes her crazy?

leslie

this person is on a psych floor & they are over reacting. ativan here we come.

[leslie :-D]

this person is on a psych floor & they are over reacting. ativan here we come.

so, the pt is crazy only because she's on a psych floor?

and crazy pt doesn't have a right to question her rights?

just automatically administer ativan?

sorry if i keep on asking for clarification...

just need to be sure i'm understanding you.

i think you're busting chops.

nurses like that are only pretend and can only be found in someone's worst nightmare.

but thanks for the chuckle.:)

leslie