Pt's FB pictures of me

Nurses HIPAA

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I am a nursing student, and my dad is an ON/GYN. I recently helped him deliver a baby, and his pt took pictures of us and posted them on Facebook. I would like to have these pictures, as I hope to become a CNM, and would love to have a picture of my dad and me at my first delivery. (There are pics of us with and without the baby.)

Is it a HIPAA violation if I click on the "..." and save these pictures to my phone since she made them public on Facebook (we are not FB friends. I searched for her.) I really want these pictures, but want to have them legitimately. Thanks!

I agree. I KNOW this is a generational thing but I am ever confused by the obsession to document and photograph, and talk about every single aspect, and moment, and second of someone's daily life. It isn't the nursing students moment. She is a student...she didn't "deliver the baby".. her father did...she was present in the room for the birth up close and personal. It isn't her moment to document. It's the patients moment. I was overwhelmed by the first birth I ever saw but I didn't feel it was necessary to put it in my scrap book and I certainly didn't consider it MY first delivery. I was present...nothing more nothing less. You aren't even allowed to have your report papers at home... why on earth would you be allowed to look them up on FB. It just isn't a good idea.[/quote']

I don't understand the need to document everything either! I don't really care what your food looks like before you eat it. And I agree 100% that it isn't her moment. She has just said she wants to document it but you're right, it's not her moment to document. We've been told (multiple times I might add) by our instructors that we don't need to be photographed in our nursing school uniforms or out in public in them. It's straight to clinicals and straight home. OP may want to check on that as well because at my school anyway, there are major repercussions for that.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.
1. Again, I have no intentions of posting to social media.

2. My #1 (and honestly only) idea about trying to legitimately contact this person: have my dad ask her about it at her 6 wk follow up. He said he would do that for me.

3. Why do I want this picture? Well, it's my first (of hopefully many) "deliveries." I don't see it as any creepier than wanting to have a picture of my child with his teacher on the first day of preschool.

4. I was a nursing student, there with school. This was the patient assigned to me by school. My father, my preceptor, and I were in there. I'm not sure what is being implied as far as my "helping" goes.

I'm sorry to have caused such a heated discussion. The world of Facebook and publishing private pictures is relatively new in the medical world. I was obviously unsure of this situation, and thought I would ask for some insight. I guess I learned my lesson.

Your school let you be part of a delivery with your father? Is that appropriate?

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Your school let you be part of a delivery with your father? Is that appropriate?

How is it not "appropriate"?

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My mom (rest her soul) always told me: if you are about to do something, and for whatever reason, you start wondering if what you are about to do is right or wrong, then you can pretty much be guaranteed that it is wrong. ;) I haven't always followed her advice, but it's always turned out to be correct.....I understand where you're coming from, but I really think some lines have been crossed already, and I'd leave well enough alone. Sometimes memories have to be enough.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.
How is it not "appropriate"?

I wasn't going to respond because I am sensing you would be offended by my thoughts.

However, I am going to answer because I think it is worth a discussion. I would like to hear how others see it.

My gut reaction to the situation is that it is inappropriate and bordering on unprofessional.

It could be interpreted as favoritism or nepotism or currying favor.

Clinical experiences shouldn't be photographic opportunities with your family.

That is just my opinion.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I wasn't going to respond because I am sensing you would be offended by my thoughts.

However, I am going to answer because I think it is worth a discussion. I would like to hear how others see it.

My gut reaction to the situation is that it is inappropriate and bordering on unprofessional.

It could be interpreted as favoritism or nepotism or currying favor.

Clinical experiences shouldn't be photographic opportunities with your family.

That is just my opinion.

Now I'm confused, who took the pictures?

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Wow. This may only be a discussion between professionals, but it may be a bit too dramatic for me. It's not good for my psyche. :)

I know that it is not MY moment. In no way am I trying to take it from this new mother. I didn't really think anything about it in the moment, but the patient is the one who wanted to take the picture. She and her husband even asked me to cut the umbilical cord. For the record, I did not cut it (not that I would admit it here for fear of being accused of practicing outside of my scope or having a better clinical experience than my peers, even though this is something that is customarily done by people with absolutely no medical experience.)

As far as having a better clinical experience than my peers, you're right. I do get more out of clinicals than my peers because I am more assertive and prepare more for each clinical experience. I have a better clinical experience because I ask for a better clinical experience. On postpartum, I asked to spend several hours with the lactation consultant as she made rounds. At the nursing home, I asked to go around with the wound care nurse. On med-surg, I asked for the patients with the more complex issues and interventions. My better clinical experience has pretty much nothing to so with whom I know, and almost everything to do with seeking that better clinical experience for myself.

And conflict of interest? That's interesting. Is it also a conflict of interest to work where a family member works? Work with a close friend? I don't see how being a student is any different as far as that goes.

We have no rules about taking pictures (even pictures for social media) or where we can wear our uniforms. I don't really understand the problem with taking pictures of uniforms. However, I wasn't even in my uniform (and no name tag) because I changed into surgical scrubs for a possible emergency c-section per my instructor's orders (I explain because I would hate to get flamed on here for possibly being out of uniform, too.)

I honestly did not think I was doing anything wrong by searching (and only searching. No stalking. No downloading pictures. Searching only.) on Facebook. I did not write her name down and take it home to look her up. I simply remembered it. Do I regret looking her up? I'm not sure, but y'all have certainly given me a lot to think about.

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Now I'm confused, who took the pictures?

The patient and her husband both took the pictures.

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I wasn't going to respond because I am sensing you would be offended by my thoughts.

However, I am going to answer because I think it is worth a discussion. I would like to hear how others see it.

My gut reaction to the situation is that it is inappropriate and bordering on unprofessional.

It could be interpreted as favoritism or nepotism or currying favor.

Clinical experiences shouldn't be photographic opportunities with your family.

That is just my opinion.

You still haven't explained what's inappropriate. Just the nepotistic angle? Or are you immaturely (or creepily) implying that it's inappropriate in another way?

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

If it has given you something to think about than the thread served it's purpose.

What was your motivation for searching her?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I often search for patient's names in the Obituaries (AKA Facebook for ICU Nurses), am I violating an ethical principle?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
You still haven't explained what's inappropriate. Just the nepotistic angle? Or are you immaturely (or creepily) implying that it's inappropriate in another way?

Many students are not allowed to attend clinicals on the same floor where a relative works (some places may state only 1st degree relative) either through school or hospital policy. This may be due to concerns where those relatives provide "better" clinical opportunities to their family over other students or because family members will allow them to do skills they haven't yet learned to do. There may also be concerns over student evaluations provided by staff members.

You will see this continue into the workplace as well. Many facilities do not allow two members of the same family to work on the same unit. Others may allow them to work on the same unit as long as one is not in a supervisory position, whether the same shift or not.

I don't think anyone is implying that it's inappropriate in another way. If you are participating in clinical experiences on the same floor where your father provides care, it would behoove you to be aware of both the facility's policies and the school's policies.

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