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.
Isn't this a shame. Here we have a thoughtful caring person, and I am not seeing many "How kind of you" comments.Kindness is not "inappropriate."
Really...kind = appropriate?? There are many kind things I could do - buy things for my patient, give them money, spend hours with them during my shift because they are lonely, go visit them at home after d/c to bring them supper...are all of those appropriate because they are kind?
Some of the posts seem to be insinuating that those of us who feel the OP's actions were inappropriate must be less caring, less kind or less connected to our patients. You can be a thoughtful, kind person who forms strong, supportive, caring patient-nurse relationships within the boundaries of a professional patient-nurse relationship. There are all kinds to ways to be warm and compassionate and to have patients very appreciative of the care they've received, and the bond they have formed with you without crossing over into a personal relationship. It isn't a matter or either you are nice or professional - you can be both.
With regards to HIPAA - could it be a violation that information that was gained in a professional capacity (admission status, patient name and ward/room) was then used in a personal capacity - (to call from home when not working to say hi)? Maybe that isn't protected information under HIPAA?...typically you aren't supposed to use information you learn about a patient at work in your personal life.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I don't think those who advised against her calling were uncaring at all. I'm sorry if I gave anyone that impression. Just wanted to share my experience, and I'm sure that many facilities would not approve of what rachelita did. . .and that has to be the #1 consideration.
Isn't this a shame. Here we have a thoughtful caring person, and I am not seeing many "How kind of you" comments.Kindness is not "inappropriate."
A bigger shame would be to give a person extremely bad advice by supporting inappropriate behavior, then have that nurse come back and say, "I got fired."
This was not a HIPAA violation; however, it was a boundary crossing. If you had been at work and this was a follow-up call assigned to you, it would have been OK. Unfortunately laws dictate that there is an "end" to nurse/patient relationships (re: boundary) - do not give yourself too much grief, you care and it shows.
Specializes in ER, ICU, CVICU, Tele, MedSurg, Oncology.
I used to work in an out patient ambulatory clinic where we did mostly Chemotherapy, and there were many instances where patients were admitted to the hospital and transferred from our care to an in-patient setting and we ALWAYS went up to the floor to check on them the next day. I don't think its in any way inappropriate to show caring and compassion for a patient that needs it, as long as the pt wasn't offended by the situation, the hospital doesn't have a policy on pt contact etc.
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?????????
Yes, you were inappropriate. Tough, but you need to seperate your professional life from your private life and being away from work is your private life. Was the patient uncomfortable with your attention? Possible. Your fellow nurses want to be nice to you but I will tell you frankly: you put yourself in a position to violate HIPAA laws because information is aquired on a need to know basis to treat the patient. What did you need to know to treat the patient at this time? Further, what if it was a male nurse who had done what you did. Can the same be applied to you? No one knows but you and giving you the benefit of the doubt is not easy nor would I do so.
I was a patient at least once where I can assure you I would not appreciate being harassed by the person who bothered me in my hospital room. My private, unpublished phone number was not given to the hospital admissions people to give out to anyone at all.
You sound like a caring nurse and I applaud that characteristic however you do need to watch your personal boundries. I do not see a HIPAA violation here but suggest you use caution in the future. Perhaps calling the desk and having them ask the patient if she would like to speak to you or have them let her know you called to check on her. People can be funny and a contact while you care for them may be well recieved however a call to them from your home may be percieved as intrusive and get you in trouble. Know your hospitals policy on this and what the administration considers acceptable.
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
Isn't that what a caring nurse would do? Nurses are supposed to be empathetic, and caring, or so I thought. Personally, I think whoever gave you the what for, was over reacting a bit.
When my mom was in and out of the hospital in another state, she spoke about the nurses as dear friends. She knew their names and their personalities. She deeply depended on them to not just care for her but about her. They were critical to her recovery. And they were an angelic comfort to us at a distance. I completely understand the need for boundaries. No question. I just can't lose site of the gift of nursing.
Meraki
188 Posts
Really...kind = appropriate?? There are many kind things I could do - buy things for my patient, give them money, spend hours with them during my shift because they are lonely, go visit them at home after d/c to bring them supper...are all of those appropriate because they are kind?
Some of the posts seem to be insinuating that those of us who feel the OP's actions were inappropriate must be less caring, less kind or less connected to our patients. You can be a thoughtful, kind person who forms strong, supportive, caring patient-nurse relationships within the boundaries of a professional patient-nurse relationship. There are all kinds to ways to be warm and compassionate and to have patients very appreciative of the care they've received, and the bond they have formed with you without crossing over into a personal relationship. It isn't a matter or either you are nice or professional - you can be both.
With regards to HIPAA - could it be a violation that information that was gained in a professional capacity (admission status, patient name and ward/room) was then used in a personal capacity - (to call from home when not working to say hi)? Maybe that isn't protected information under HIPAA?...typically you aren't supposed to use information you learn about a patient at work in your personal life.