I need some opinions. The other night I was helping out in PACU. (I am usually in ER or Preop, but occasionally go to PACU when needed) I was asked by another nurse to transport her patient upstairs. The patient was early 30's female, very nice, always saying thanks when people helped her. We talked as I took her to her room. She had surgery for a cancer recurrence, so we talked about the surgery, her young kids, her family, etc. It was shift change, so I ended up having to wait with her for quite a while to see her nurse, the PACU nurse has to have face to face time with the receiving floor nurse. During this time we chatted some more. Then I left when her nurse got there.
The next day I was off. I was thinking about this patient and how nice she was. I called her room to check on her. I just let her know I had been thinking about her, and asked how she was doing...get well soon, etc. She seemed very appreciative.
A few days later I told her PACU nurse that I had spoken with her. This nurse was very offended with me and said I had broken HIPPAA (sp?) laws by calling the patient to check on her. Is this true? I just thought I was being nice. When I had my daughter, the L&D nurse called the next day to check on me. I know hospitals can be lonely places and thought one might like to hear a friendly voice and know someone was thinking of them.
I need some opinions. The other night I was helping out in PACU. (I am usually in ER or Preop, but occasionally go to PACU when needed) I was asked by another nurse to transport her patient upstairs. The patient was early 30's female, very nice, always saying thanks when people helped her. We talked as I took her to her room. She had surgery for a cancer recurrence, so we talked about the surgery, her young kids, her family, etc. It was shift change, so I ended up having to wait with her for quite a while to see her nurse, the PACU nurse has to have face to face time with the receiving floor nurse. During this time we chatted some more. Then I left when her nurse got there.
The next day I was off. I was thinking about this patient and how nice she was. I called her room to check on her. I just let her know I had been thinking about her, and asked how she was doing...get well soon, etc. She seemed very appreciative.
A few days later I told her PACU nurse that I had spoken with her. This nurse was very offended with me and said I had broken HIPPAA (sp?) laws by calling the patient to check on her. Is this true? I just thought I was being nice. When I had my daughter, the L&D nurse called the next day to check on me. I know hospitals can be lonely places and thought one might like to hear a friendly voice and know someone was thinking of them.
Did I do something wrong?????????
To my understanding, if you were to check the patient out via the hospital's EMR on your next shift....that would be a HIPAA violation. But calling her in her room and asking how she is, doesn't seem to be a HIPAA violation.
Although I am very careful to not initiate a conversation with a former patient that I may bump into in, say, the supermarket, I do not deny that person the right to greet me first. Can I get fired if they hug me? If they turn to their shopping companion and introduce me? Would the hospital have me turn and run in the opposite direction?
Yes, there is certainly a difference between a professional relationship and a personal one, but sometimes the lines blur. If someone I know is admitted to my unit, it is appropriate to refuse to be assigned to her. If her nurse needs assistance and I am the only one around, if possible I would ask the patient if it is okay with her that I assist.
Should we never visit friends/family if they are patients where we work? Mt dad has his open heart surgery at the hospital where I trained, and I knew many of the staff. What then?
Good sense needs to prevail here, and we need to stop using HIPAA as the almighty shield when it doesn't apply.
I have no problems with any of the things you have mentioned in your post...they don't seem like boundary issues at all, as they are with former patients who are initiating the conversation, or with family/friends in a defined professional or personal capacity, or with people with whom you have preexisting relationships. I don't see the issues from the OP in any of your scenarios. In the OP's case - it was nurse initiated from home, with a still in hospital patient who she had never met before except for transferring her between units. I am not trying to vilify her - it sounds like it worked out fine, but in her post she couldn't understand why the other nurse saw this as an issue, so I was giving my two cents on why I too would see it as a boundary issue, nothing to do with HIPAA. I was also surprised by how other posters also couldn't see any issues with this, as where I am it just wouldn't be acceptable practice.
My thoughts are that everyone has favorites but if you start playing favorites, that's where you can get yourself in trouble.
What about all your other patients you had? Just because they weren't verbally as nice/appreciative of you doesn't mean they don't deserve a phone call too...
Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.
Spacklehead - do you really see those two things as the same?
Well, since I was initially answering the question from the OP if it was a HIPAA violation then no, I don't view them as the same thing. I actually view what we were required to do from the ED as more of a potential HIPAA violation than what the OP did because we were just handed random patients' charts (some who we never had any hand in their care at all) and were told to call them to ask how they were doing. At least the OP did have some part in the care of the patient she called, so that is less likely to be considered a HIPAA violation.
Now, if you asked me, personally, if I would have called the patient mentioned in the OP if I was her nurse - no, I would not - but I still don't think it was a HIPAA violation for the OP to do so.
Yes, this is inappropriate. It's OK to call once she is discharged. However, calling while she is still in your facility is inappropriate and crosses professional boundaries.
Specializes in Spinal Cord injuries, Emergency+EMS.
this all seems a little confusing , for those saying you are not 'allowed' to speak to patients one your nurse-patient relationship has ended ....
- so if, you were an ER nurses, are you not allowed to speak to the patient or speak with floor staff about that patient after you have handed them over on their admission ?
- what if you seee a patient you have cared for as an inpatient in the hall way on their way to or from an outpatient appointment ?
Seems to me it would be even more inappropriate to call a pt once they were home. Wouldn't that also cross professional boundaries? Curious as to what you mean?
I think that it is inappropriate. If the patient is not under your direct care, I do not think you should call them or check up on them. There needs to be boundaries, I don't care how much of a connection you feel you have with a patient, there is absolutely no reason to call and check up on them after your shift is over, unless it's a discharge call and part of your job. HIPAA violation or not, it's weird. Just my opinion.
I don't think it's a big deal....if you were going through the chart or asking her current nurse for info it's a problem. I think if you connect with a patient they would be okay with you checking in and I think they might appreciate it. It all depends on the patient. You have to be able to read them a bit and see if they would like it or think it's weird..I think many patients would be extremally gratefully that you actually cared and took the time to follow up with them.
I have not read all replys yet (internet actimg up) - but here is my take.
1 . If you did not `click`` with this pt would you have called to to check on them. Probably not -Right. To me that is the anwer. If you call to check on every pt your transport, then you are OK. If you onlyh check on those that you`like`then there may be a problem.
CuriousMe
2,642 Posts
To my understanding, if you were to check the patient out via the hospital's EMR on your next shift....that would be a HIPAA violation. But calling her in her room and asking how she is, doesn't seem to be a HIPAA violation.