RN student and asking about personal meds?

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2011

Its not a HIPAA violation if you hand it over. It would only be a violation if someone gave it to them without being authorized by you.

caliotter3 · Jul 31, 2011

Valid question for a valid reason.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2011

Hello! I will be starting nursing school in a few weeks (YAY!) but was curious about a question on my physical. It asks us to list all of the medications we currently take. I am totally fine with handing over immunization records but isn't sharing what meds I take a HIPAA violation?

NO. It is a confidental record that contains your information. If they posted it on facebook or on the community board at the school is a HIPAA violation. Taking a picture of your record and sending it to someone else is a violation. Asking you to fill out your medical record in not a violation.:)

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/index.html

Seas · Jul 31, 2011

It is not a violation. First of all, they are asking you, not your friend about you. Second, they need it; there is a reason for asking.

RedChair, ADN, RN · Jul 31, 2011

I have the same quesion on my physical form. I am also not entirely comfortable with this as a requirement, but I can see some of the reasoning behind it. and really its not like they are going to have all the instructors sitting in a circle reading these forms saying "SHe takes WHAT?! or He has THAT?" But still.... :cool:

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2011

its really to CYOA.. if you are prescribed vicodin to take PRN for back pain because you were in an accident 2 years ago and have chronic back pain, they arent going to deny you entrance to nursing school. but if you dont disclose it to them, and you hurt yourself at clinical and they give you a drug test that happens to turn out positive for opiates, you might have a messy situation on your hands.

and no its not a HIPAA violation for reasons explained above.

ilovemicrobiology · Jul 31, 2011

Thanks for all of your replies! :)

VioletKaliLPN, LPN · Jul 31, 2011

my physical had the same questions. i am bi polar and i take 2 controlled substances, not an issue at all.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2011

this is probably as good a time as any to get people to go look up what the actual hipaa rules are. i see far too many people who say, "i can't tell you that because of hipaa" when what they really mean is, "i slept through that inservice/i am too lazy to get up and read the guidelines in the binder on the other side of the desk/my brother-in-law's first cousin is a lawyer and she says i shouldn't talk to anybody about anything i see in the hospital."

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2011

Although we have this kumbaya attitude about putting all your meds down I would be cautious. There have been instances I know of where discrimination has happened due to disclosing pain and psych meds. I'm not saying it happens in all schools or jobs but it does happen. I always put down no meds and let the chips fall where they may. I guess I'm old school but it's none of their f r i c k e n business ... especially in school.

Please don't bother with the examples of life and death; I've heard em all and I've also seen a good RN destroyed due to this type of disclosure as well.

momto2j's · Jul 31, 2011

I do have concerns about the pre-employment physicals. Are they usually given after an offer is made?? I'm diabetic, can I do the job, YES. Am I going to be more expensive to insure ABSOLUTLY!! If it comes down to me and an equally qualified canidate with no preexisting medical issues, guess who I am going to hire??