Taking picture of patient?

[rkitty198, BSN, RN]

Hello all-

A co-worker of mine cared for a minor celebrity and was herself a fan. She wanted a picture with the patient and asked if I wanted to get one too. I declined. She took the picture after the patient was discharged. The patient was dressed and standing outside the room.

After having a very busy day I didnt think much about it. I told another co-worker about myself not "getting a picture" with this patient and then I thought I was glad I didnt choose to, because I didnt think it was right (although it would have been neat to have a picture). The co-worker I told, reported this Nurse to management.

This Nurse had a meeting with management and her job is in jeopardy.

Is this wrong? I personally think it is, but I would never want to get my co-worker into trouble. I feel so bad by saying anything as it is affecting her.

Also this staff member was contacted that evening by this former patient for a bleeding IV site issue at discharge and was instructed to go to the ED (I thought calling 911 would have been better as he was at home). My co-worker met the patient in the ED after she was clocked out and off duty to see how the patient was. Do you think this is inappropriate?

I feel badly for her.

What do you all think?

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

No that's just completely wrong and I'm glad to hear her job is in jeopardy over this.

[nursel56]

She went way over the line. How and why did this person contact the nurse to ask about the bleeding? It angers me that people do this. Even if the minor celebrity was friendly and congenial on the outside they should expect to be treated the same as anyone else when they are in the hospital. Very unprofessional.

[rkitty198, BSN, RN]

How and why did this person contact the nurse to ask about the bleeding? .

She was contacted by the patient during the shift, right before it ended by phone. The patient may have called the hospital or was given our floor phone number, because she was contacted via phone on the unit.

I also think this is wrong, yet I still feel badly for her. She is a good Nurse, she just made a very bad choice in doing what she did.

She also didnt chart about the phone call and the patients bleeding. This same co-worker who told management told management about the bleeding IV situation. So that is also a situation that is against her.

[Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Unlike the first poster I wouldn't say I'm gald her job is in jeopardy because I would never wish bad on someone. However, taking the picture was out of line. HIPPA violation whether the patient said it was ok or not. About the bleeding IV? Depends on how the pt contacted the nurse. And depending on whether this is her first offense or not will probably determine whether or not she'll keep her job.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I have more "trouble" with the tattling nurse.....what exactly was she reporting? what problem? Is she just envious? and where in the world was the nurse supposed to chart on the IV site of a person whom was no longer a patient?

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

Unlike the first poster I wouldn't say I'm gald her job is in jeopardy because I would never wish bad on someone. However, taking the picture was out of line. HIPPA violation whether the patient said it was ok or not. About the bleeding IV? Depends on how the pt contacted the nurse. And depending on whether this is her first offense or not will probably determine whether or not she'll keep her job.

But put yourself in the family of that patients shoes. How would you like it if the nurse that took care of your family member was playing paparazzi? I'd be fuming.

When people do wrong things.. they must face the consequences.

[nursel56]

She was contacted by the patient during the shift, right before it ended by phone. The patient may have called the hospital or was given our floor phone number, because she was contacted via phone on the unit.

I also think this is wrong, yet I still feel badly for her. She is a good Nurse, she just made a very bad choice in doing what she did.

She also didnt chart about the phone call and the patients bleeding. This same co-worker who told management told management about the bleeding IV situation. So that is also a situation that is against her.

I didn't say she should be fired, just that it crossed the line and was unprofessional. It really isn't clear whether or not the minor-celebrity patient was aware of or gave permission to the nurse to take the picture, but even if he or she had done that, the picture was taken inside the facility, making it very likely the hospital could consider that a HIPAA violation even if the patient had not.

From what you said it sounds to me like your friend behaved more as a breathless fan than a nurse, which concluded with her showing up off the clock to meet up with them in the ER.

Maybe I appear to be too much of a stickler over this because I live in Southern California and cross paths with celebrities pretty frequently. I feel they should have the right to be treated as anybody else would be when they are not doing something connected to their profession, and even more so when it's a healthcare issue.

The reality is that employers have become almost hysterical over the HIPAA issue as a whole, most likely because they fear lawsuits. I've read stories on this board where people were fired for far less than what she did. I don't think she should be fired, but it is a cautionary tale about how paranoid people have become over it.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

You didn't state if the patient was asked if a photo was OK or not. Many units and hospitals have policies on staff taking pictures. She may have violated the policy, and the patient's privacy. Charting on the phone call may have been problematic if she didn't have access to the chart. As for her meeting the patient in the ER, it would only be appropriate if the patient had invited her. Since the nurse was no longer involved in the patient's care, nosing around the ER would be a HIPPA violation.

[NotFlo]

But put yourself in the family of that patients shoes. How would you like it if the nurse that took care of your family member was playing paparazzi? I'd be fuming.

When people do wrong things.. they must face the consequences.

Um, if that patient is an alert and oriented adult I would say it's the patient's decision if they want to play paparazzi or not. What does the family have to do with it? If I were the mother of an adult minor celebrity I can't say as if I would be fuming about it at all.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

Um, if that patient is an alert and oriented adult I would say it's the patient's decision if they want to play paparazzi or not. What does the family have to do with it? If I were the mother of an adult minor celebrity I can't say as if I would be fuming about it at all.

I meant it as an example.

The OP asked "What do you all think?"

I stated what I thought. As did the rest of you. I'm not ridiculing you because you don't think she should lose her job over this.

[SnowStar4]

very inappropriate. on my unit we very frequently have famous people. we do not act like we know who they are at all, except for our patient. we never ask them for anything (autographs, pictures, etc) as they are there for medical care and deserve their privacy. sometimes they sign things and give them to us on their own, but it should never be asked for.