A nurse is observing an assistive personnel (AP). For which of the following actions by the AP should the nurse intervene?
A.
Logs off the computer after entering a client’s intake and output totals.
B.
Tears a document with client information in half before disposing of it in a waste basket.
C.
Denies a request by another AP to use her password to enter client’s vital signs.
D.
Removes a clipboard with client information from the room during visiting hours.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is B: Tears a document with client information in half before disposing of it in a waste basket.
Explanation:
In healthcare settings, protecting patient privacy and maintaining confidentiality are paramount under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Client information, especially any form of personal health information (PHI), must be handled carefully to ensure it is not exposed to unauthorized individuals.
Option B: Tearing a document with client information in half before disposing of it in a wastebasket is not a secure method of handling PHI. Simply tearing the document still leaves the potential for someone to reconstruct it and gain access to sensitive information. PHI should be disposed of using secure methods like shredding, which ensures the information is irretrievable. The nurse must intervene to prevent this violation of patient confidentiality.
Option A: Logging off the computer after entering a client’s intake and output totals is a proper action to protect patient data from unauthorized access. No intervention is required.
Option C: Denying another AP’s request to use her password is the correct action. Sharing passwords is a security risk and a violation of privacy standards. Healthcare workers should always protect their login credentials. Again, no intervention is needed here.
Option D: Removing a clipboard with client information from a room during visiting hours may be appropriate to prevent unauthorized access by visitors. While the clipboard might contain confidential information, removing it from the room reduces the risk of unintentional disclosure. This action may help maintain client privacy, and thus, no intervention is required.
In summary, the nurse must intervene when improper disposal methods are used for patient information to ensure compliance with privacy regulations and to maintain the confidentiality of client records.