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thank you. gracious reply!

thanks to all of you...

BloomNurseRN, you're right: I am totally in excess when it comes to my worry! That's actually something that I'm trying to work through, seek help and self-care on. I think I'm naturally given to worry, and I find that the older I get, the more worried I'm becoming. Part of this is my feeling that my work is my all-in-all -- that if I were to lose my job, I'd be sunk. Another part is the constant warnings about Hipaa that we read and are taught regularly in my workplace -- complete with the details of the seriousness of the offenses. I'm also quite stressed at work and in life, so I'm more sensitive about everything in recent years. Yes, it's time to re-calibrate, to get back to reality in all of this; and I'm actually considering a good, long sabbatical. I want to thank you for your encouragement and your perspective.

I asked a similar question months ago and I felt so much better after reading all of your comments on that issue. I'm naturally neurotic so yes, working in healthcare with Hipaa ever before me keeps me on my toes (sigh). I really don't think about it, I just keep work issues at work. But, today while talking with my dear mother, I mentioned that, while at work one day and wearing a protective mask, a little kid said, "hey, that creeps me out!" (referring to the mask; the way the kid said it was really cute.) I didn't say anything else, didn't mention if the kid was a patient or not, but did use the pronoun "he". Paranoid me, I'm worried. Forgive me if this seems silly or a waste of your time! As I said, I normally am pretty iron-clad about not mentioning anything patient-related outside of work, but this just tumbled out. Thanks for your patience and feedback. PS: By the way, I work in healthcare but am NOT a nurse. I have regular patient contact though, and it was my concerns about Hipaa that led me to this site (I couldn't find any other and I knew that you nurses would offer good feedback). I hope it's ok if I post here, and if not, I'm sorry!

Thank you, such a good point. Best to keep it about the patient, to give them and their situation one's all. Thanks to each of you for responding to this!

Thanks, all. By the way, is it ever ok to tell a patient that you have met other patients who have the same difficult condition or gone through something similar to what they are going through? (Without mentioning names, dates of admission, docs, ages, towns, etc.)

thanks so much for your words. I think I'm afraid that in disclosing the nature of the injury and the pt's gender, that that was too much. Not that my family is going to go and hunt down a male who had this particular injury of course, but still, I'm angry at myself for breaking confidentiality, even in vague terms...I sure appreciate your kindness to respond to my post.

I am SO frightened by Hipaa, and rightfully so! I'm neurotic about never, ever mentioning anything about patients to anyone that doesn't need to know; but recently I think I overstepped my bounds, so your post and the others' responses help me. Here's my issue: I recently met a patient who came in with a bad physical injury that shattered him, emotionally. I had him on my mind a LOT since I saw him. Recently, in my family's home, I share with them that a patient -- I didn't use his name, or anything else to id him but did identify him as "a guy" -- came in with this general injury. I didn't say anything else, but immediately thought, "oh NO -- I shouldn't have said anything!" I'm so afraid that I've disclosed confidential information now, just by stating that a guy with this general injury came in to our facility. My family has no connection to the facility, but still...I think (I HOPE) I've learned my lesson. Still mulling over whether to discuss this with my director...sigh

I recently met a patient at our facility who came to us with a really hard injury. I had a long talk with the patient and he's been on my mind a lot. Recently, while with my family, I mentioned to them that I had met someone at our facility who had come in with this injury (I named the injury, in vague terms), but didn't share anything else, such as name, age, doctor, address, etc. I did mention that the patient was a man, and didn't even mention that I had seen and/or spoken to the patient. But by simply sharing that this patient indeed came to our facility, and even saying in general terms the nature of the injury, I believe that I may have violated Hipaa! I am filled with regret and heartsick over this slip, as I am almost neurotic about never saying anything to friends or family about patients. Any insights on this? And, if I did violate Hipaa, what should I do next? Thank you so much.