Sue is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder clinic nurse enrolled in a master's education program. She is interested in writing a paper on the factors that are associated with poor compliance with medical regimens and associated repeat hospitalization of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder patients. She downloads patient information from the clinic database to a thumb drive that she later accesses on her home computer. Sue understands rules about privacy of information and believes that because she is a nurse and needs this information for a graduate school assignment, she is entitled to the information. Is Sue correct in her thinking? Describe why she is or is not correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is No, Sue is not correct in her thinking. As a nurse enrolled in a master's education program, Sue should be aware of the importance of patient privacy and confidentiality. Accessing patient information from the clinic database without proper authorization and using it for her own personal use, even for a graduate school assignment, is a violation of patient privacy laws and ethical standards.

Sue should have sought proper authorization from the clinic and followed the necessary protocols for accessing patient information for research purposes. Additionally, she should have ensured that the patient information was de-identified to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

It is important for healthcare professionals to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and respect patient privacy at all times. Sue should seek guidance from her academic institution and the clinic's ethics committee on how to conduct her research in a manner that respects patient privacy and complies with legal and ethical standards.

Sue Is a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder Clinic Nurse Enrolled