A nurse tells her neighbor personal information about a hospitalized patient. Telling her neighbor about this indicates that the:

A. Actions of the nurse are appropriate since his neighbor is his confidante, and the neighbor has assured him the information provided will not be shared.

Explanation: Even if the nurse's neighbor is considered a confidante, sharing specific patient information is still a breach of confidentiality. Healthcare professionals are obligated to follow strict guidelines regarding patient privacy, and sharing patient details with anyone outside the healthcare team, even if they promise not to share it further, is not ethically permissible.

B. The nurse is actively promoting nursing as a profession, and it is important to share information that might encourage others to pursue a nursing career.

Explanation: While it's positive for nurses to encourage others to pursue nursing, this should not involve sharing private patient information. There are many appropriate ways to promote the nursing profession, such as discussing the rewards of the job, the educational paths, or the impact nurses have on patient care. Patient confidentiality, however, should never be compromised in such attempts.

C. The nurse has violated the confidentiality of the patient by discussing personal information about the patient with his neighbor.

Explanation: This is the correct choice. As mentioned earlier, patient confidentiality is a fundamental ethical and legal principle in healthcare. Disclosing personal patient information to unauthorized individuals, even if unintentional or with good intentions, is a violation of this principle.

D. The nurse has not violated the confidentiality of the patient because the patient is terminal: sharing this information will not harm the patient.

Explanation: A patient being terminal does not change the rules of confidentiality. Regardless of a patient's condition, their right to privacy remains intact. Sharing information about a patient's terminal status without proper authorization is still a breach of confidentiality and is not considered ethical practice.