ms.amy03

BostonFNP, I just try not to question things as it was a very intense and sticky situation in that office, if the Program director says I've violated it then I must have. My future is in their hands. The last thing I want to do is go and probe into "what did I violate?" with the Director. FYI, I love Np's and what they do, you guys are amazing.

I just want to say thank you for the responses, all of you. I am very worried about myself. I do have a heart, a great big heart and I love being with people and caring for them, I never want to hurt anyone and I've done that untentionally. I should take extra precautions now and rethink about who I want to add to my social network.

Sun408, Thank you for your response. If I didn't make myself clear, I did have the meeting with him already and he told me at the end of the meeting that there will be a punishment he doens't know what it is but he will let me know in a few days after discussing the matter with other people or maybe the BON. I did own up the unprofessional posting, I removed it immediately after my classmate called me and told me that students were talking about me. I didn't realize what I had done and that even the content of what I wrote, regardless if it did not mention patient identification is still a big slap on the hand and it's not right. I got too comfortable with writing and saying whatever was on my mind, realizing my entire world was on display classmates and friends/family. I didn't conduct myself professionally. I also didn't 100% understand the rules and terms of HIPAA and being ethical as a nurse....even though I thought it was ok to share what I wanted without revealing information. I apologized for embarassing myself and the school, and I appreciate the corrections he's working with me. I just want to keep doing what I"m doing and enjoy it still being within limits. People talk too much in this world and they interpret things very differently I should've not been so naive and stupid. Thank you thoughfor the support.

It might be easier to discuss what I know about HIPPA. I am a nursing student to begin with. From what I've learned is that sharing patient information with those who are not directly involved with that patient's care is wrong. Talking about the patient even when there is no mention with names or any way to identify the patient is even wrong whether it be in an elevator or any other place. My infraction: In this world we now share our thoughts and beliefs with the online world, Facebook is something that so many people utilize now to stay in touch with friends and family. Unfortunately I made a posting about my experience that day in the healtch care setting. I spoked about how I got to see preocedures and aid in it, how I felt about it, the way I smelt after wards. I wrote all of that unknowingly that I was violating HIPPA because I had not mentioned names, I wasn't speaking about any specific patients it was gross because I had talked about smelling like lady parts and onions(the onions coming from my sandwhich really not the patient), I didn't mention where I was working at they were strictly reflections of my experience. The content of it was inappropriately gross but I didnt' feel like there was a violation that I had comitted. In essence it was offensive to some people and it came near the line of violating HIPPA, one of my class mates had reported me to my program coordinator and I am having to write a paper for him citing how I will correct myself and what interventions I plan on doing. My coordinator also told me that there will be a punishment that I will learn later in few days before lecture. He will discuss his interview with me to other people to decide what the punishment will be, I'm scared of being thrown out of the program or worse, delaying or not allowing me to graduate or sit for the NCLEX. I'm scared of not being able to graduate and delaying my time. What could happen to me?