test results

That is up to the provider and the facility. It is not a law, and it certainly has nothing to do with HIPAA.

There is a written policy instructing you to do what you describe? That's all you need to know. It behooves you to be sure you are speaking to the patient or guardian/designated proxy, and not to leave messages on the answering machine ("Ms. Jones, your pregnancy test came back positive and you are scheduled for your termination on Friday." Baaaaaad idea.) The office should also have a form that the patient signs that gives/withholds permission for you to call and speak to someone at the house besides the patient, or to leave messages (mine does). Make your acquaintance with these and you will be reassured.

Knowing the policy and procedures manual is great. But to put in some common sense.....if a patient with a chronic condition taking medication for it, i.e., anticoagulants for A-fib, diabetes, history of anemia, chronic renal failure, etc. In other words the patient is educated about their medical condition, and asks....what is my glucose, my potassium, my hemoglobin, etc., I would tell them without blinking.

If they have no idea why they are sick, their condition is new to them, maybe I would wait for the Dr.

PS, forgot, what is my PT, PTT.

Our policy is the doc must review the results and put a note about what to tell the pt. Our labs come into the system straight to the MD's queue on the computer, he has to review them, then they'll be moved to the nurse queue. We'll call the pt and let them know the result and any follow-up action the doc needs, such as repeat in one month or adjusting meds or getting additional labs drawn.

I was trained that we could give out the results as long as the doctor has signed off on them or seen them.

It depends on the situation-

Patient presents with headache and vomiting. MRI reveals large brain tumor. You, as the nurse, see the results in the computer. Mom asks "did the MRI results come back?" I'm not going in and saying "sorry, Mom, Johnny has a brain tumor." It's the MD's job to discuss these results with the Mom and what the plan will be.

A few months later, Johnny has completed surgery, XRT and cycle 1 of chemotherapy and is readmitted with fever and neutropenia. He has daily CBC/Diff results drawn on the night shift. An extended consent for blood products has been signed because of the frequency of needing transfusions. Johnny's hemoglobin comes back at 6 and the MD orders a PRBC transfusion. Obviously I'm going to explain to Mom why Johnny needs a transfusion and what his lab results were.