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A nurse on a medical-surgical unit receives a telephone call from an individual who identifies himself as the client's employer. The employer asks the nurse about the client's condition. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the nurse?

A.

"I cannot confirm or deny that we have a client by that name."

B.

"I will tell him you called."

C.

"The client's condition is stable right now."

D.

"He is here in the hospital, but I cannot tell you anything else."

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A Reason:

 "I cannot confirm or deny that we have a client by that name." is correct. Respecting patient confidentiality is crucial in healthcare. Revealing any information about a patient's condition without proper authorization or consent could breach confidentiality laws, such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) in the United States. Therefore, providing minimal to no information over the phone to an unidentified caller is the appropriate approach to safeguard the patient's privacy.

Choice B Reason:

 "I will tell him you called." Is incorrect. This response implies that the nurse will pass along the information or the fact that the employer called, potentially breaching the patient's confidentiality by confirming the client's presence in the hospital to an unauthorized person.

Choice C Reason:

 "The client's condition is stable right now." Is incorrect. Revealing any information about the patient's condition to someone who hasn't been authorized to receive such information can breach patient confidentiality. Even stating that the condition is stable discloses some level of the patient's health status without proper consent.

Choice D Reason:

 "He is here in the hospital, but I cannot tell you anything else." Is incorrect. While this response acknowledges the patient's presence in the hospital, it also hints that the nurse has information about the patient. It doesn't adhere to the standard of patient confidentiality, potentially breaching the patient's privacy.


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Asking the assist personnel to document the client's time of death is not correct. While accurate documentation of the time of death is important, the responsibility typically falls on the healthcare provider or physician who confirms the death, not necessarily the assist personnel involved in postmortem care. B. Place an identification tag on the outside of the client's shroud is correct. This action ensures proper identification throughout the postmortem process and aligns with standard procedures for maintaining identification integrity during autopsy procedures. Identifying the client accurately is crucial to prevent any errors or mix-ups. C. Wearing sterile gloves when cleaning the client's body is incorrect. Sterile gloves are not typically required for postmortem care. While gloves are important for infection control, they don't necessarily need to be sterile for handling deceased patients unless there are specific infectious concerns. D. Removing the client's dentures and give them to the client's family is incorrect. In most cases, the client's personal belongings, including dentures, are typically handled according to specific protocols or the family's wishes. However, removing the dentures and giving them to the family isn't typically part of postmortem care. The family might be informed about the presence of dentures and their disposition, but the decision to give them to the family should follow established procedures or the family's preferences.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A Reason:

"I cannot confirm or deny that we have a client by that name." is correct. Respecting patient confidentiality is crucial in healthcare. Revealing any information about a patient's condition without proper authorization or consent could breach confidentiality laws, such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) in the United States. Therefore, providing minimal to no information over the phone to an unidentified caller is the appropriate approach to safeguard the patient's privacy.

Choice B Reason:

"I will tell him you called." Is incorrect. This response implies that the nurse will pass along the information or the fact that the employer called, potentially breaching the patient's confidentiality by confirming the client's presence in the hospital to an unauthorized person.

Choice C Reason:

"The client's condition is stable right now." Is incorrect. Revealing any information about the patient's condition to someone who hasn't been authorized to receive such information can breach patient confidentiality. Even stating that the condition is stable discloses some level of the patient's health status without proper consent.

Choice D Reason:

"He is here in the hospital, but I cannot tell you anything else." Is incorrect. While this response acknowledges the patient's presence in the hospital, it also hints that the nurse has information about the patient. It doesn't adhere to the standard of patient confidentiality, potentially breaching the patient's privacy.

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