Question regarding disclosure of health information

[Student199]

Quick question, if the patient's family went home for the night and the patient later suffered another stroke, does the family have the right to be informed about it next morning when they return. The patient by then was too weak, or incapable of translating his own health history. As a nursing student, are we allowed to inform the family?

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Someone should have called the family regarding the change in condition when it occurred.Not a nursing student-you are not ready to answer all of the questions and discuss the options and ramifications of each.Good to watch and listen.The info nurse gives a family depends on the culture of the work place and the physician.I have worked with a few who did not allow nurses to discuss things as basic as vital signs and lab values.

[mrsboots87]

Only if the family is the medical POA or if the patient has previously stated that it is ok to share their health information. If the patient is incapacitated or too confused to give consent, then it is okay to give info to the next of kin only. However, this would have been done at the time of the event. The facility would not wait until the next day to notify the family. And as a student if would not usually be within your scope of practice to be education on new patient conditions if it has not already been previously discussed with the patients actual medical team. You would mostly be listening to the nurse or physician speak to the family about it, or would be telling them you will get their nurse if they ask further questions while you provide care.

[Student199]

Thank you so much

[Student199]

Thank you, much appreciated.