page 15confidentiality and privacy in nursing practice workbook
Workbook Activity #2 (sample response)
1) I add my signature and title, or initials as
appropriate, to each entry they make on the
health record
2) Nurses collect personal and health information
on a need-to-know basis.
3) Nurses ensure that clients are aware of their rights
concerning their personal and health information
and have consented to the collection, use and
disclosure of this information.
4) Nurses share relevant personal and health
information with the health care team. Nurses
explain to clients that this information will be
shared and identify to them who is on the health
care team (e.g., physicians, social workers).
5) Nurses respect clients’ rights to access their own
health records and to request correction of the
information
6) Nurses safeguard personal and health
information learned in the context of the nurse-
client relationship and disclose this information
(outside of the health care team) only with client
consent or when there is a specific ethical or legal
obligation to do so.
7) Nurses have an ethical obligation to disclose
in situations that involve a substantial risk of
significant harm to the health or safety of the
client or others. In these situations, nurses use
a process of ethical decision-making before
disclosing confidential information. Whenever
possible, this process involves consulting with
knowledgeable colleagues.
An example of how this is applied
in my practice is …
Principle from the Practice
Standard
I know that different Acts apply to nurses practicing
in different areas & that the policies in my
agency and nursing unit policies that reflect this
legislation.
When I am collecting an admission history from
a client, I focus my inquiry on areas that help me
understand the reason for their admission. I ask
clients if ‘there is anything else it would be helpful
for us (nurses) to know”.
When I am collecting information from clients I
always explain to them how it will used and who
will see it & I ask them if they are OK with that.
When a client has an issue that the physician needs
to know about, I always explain to clients that I am
going to call the physician and let them know.
If clients ask to see their medical records I support
their request and at the same time follow the
agency and nursing unit policies related to this.
When I am working with a client to prepare for
discharge following surgery, I explain the need
to share information with other health care
professionals ‘outside’ of our existing team e.g.
their family physician, the home care nurse, social
worker etc, and ask if they are OK with that.
Recently we had a patient admitted with
respiratory issues that turned out to be TB.
Although I did not have to actually make the phone
calls in this case, I know that we are ethically and
legally required to report communicable diseases.