Patient Confidentiality and Informed Consent

Question 1

What is ethics?

Answer 1

A term used for the study of how we make judgments in regard to right and wrong

Question 2

What are the 7 legal and ethical responsibilities that a NUC must abide by regarding patient confidentiality?

Answer 2

1. Do not discuss patient information (except when necessary for care of the patient)
2. Conduct conversations with other health personnel outside of the hearing distance of the patients & visitors.
3. Do not discuss medical treatment with the patient or relatives.
4. Do not discuss general patient information.
5. Confirm relationship to patient of individual requesting patient information.
6. Do not discuss hospital incidents away from the nursing unit.
7. Refer all telephone calls from reporters, police personnel, legal agencies, and other investigative sources to the nurse manager.

Question 3

What is informed consent?

Answer 3

A doctrine that states before a patient is asked to consent to a risky or invasive diagnostic or treatment procedure that he or she is entitled to receive certain information

Question 4

What are the 5 guidelines of obtaining consent?

Answer 4

1. The duty to inform a patient before obtaining a signature of permission.
2. Description of the procedure and alternatives to it and their risks.
3. The risks of death or serious bodily disability from the procedure.
4. The probable results of the procedure, including any problems of recuperation and time of recuperation anticipated.
5. Anything else that is generally disclosed to patients asked to consent to the procedure.

Question 5

Who can sign consents?

Answer 5

• Doctor
• Nursing staff
• Patient
• Legal representative for patient

Question 6

How should you discard patient/resident/client information?

Answer 6

Shred or use confidential disposal

Question 7

Should you be storing patient/resident/client personal information on a laptop or any other portable memory device?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

Should you be discussing patients/residents/clients in the elevators, cafeteria or outside the workplace?

Answer 8

No

Question 9

Can you share your User ID and password?

Answer 9

No. They are like your legal signature and you will be held accountable

Question 10

If you leave your desk, should you leave the computer unlocked?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

What should be done to all areas containing personal information?

Answer 11

Make sure they are locked and accessed only by authorized staff