You are working on a surgical unit. During coffee break in the hospital cafeteria you overhear that a coworker has been admitted to the medical floor. When you return to your unit, you access her chart on the computer. You and this coworker have been becoming friends, so you are concerned about her admission and just want to check to see if she will be ok. How will your actions be construed?
A)Since you are friends with this coworker, it will be ok to look in to her chart.
B)Your actions will be seen as a breach of confidentiality, and you could be reprimanded.
C)As a nurse, you are entitled to look at any chart of any client in the hospital.
D)So long as you ask first, you will be permitted to look at the coworker's chart.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Even though you are friends with the coworker, accessing a chart for any client to whom you are not directly assigned will be construed as a breach of confidentiality. Even if you were given permission to look by your immediate supervisor, you could both be charged with a breach of confidentiality. Nurses may only have access to client's charts on a need-to-know basis.

You Are Working on a Surgical Unit