With whom should a nurse share her password for access to the facility’s computer system?
No one
The nurse manager
The unit clerk
The facility’s information system representative
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Confidentiality: Patient information stored within the facility's computer system is highly confidential and protected by various laws and regulations, such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Sharing a password with anyone, even trusted colleagues, could potentially compromise patient privacy and lead to unauthorized access or breaches of sensitive data. Nurses are ethically and legally obligated to safeguard patient confidentiality and uphold the highest standards of privacy protection.
Accountability: Each nurse is held individually accountable for any actions taken under their unique login credentials. Sharing a password blurs the lines of responsibility and makes it difficult to trace actions back to the specific individual who performed them. This can create accountability issues and impede investigations in cases of errors, misconduct, or security breaches.
Security Best Practices: Password sharing is universally discouraged by cybersecurity experts as it significantly weakens system security. Strong passwords, kept confidential and changed regularly, are essential for protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access, malware, and potential cyberattacks.
Facility Policies: Most healthcare facilities have strict policies prohibiting password sharing to maintain compliance with regulations and safeguard patient privacy. Violating these policies could lead to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
Choice B rationale:
While a nurse manager may have a legitimate need to access patient information in certain situations, sharing a password is not the appropriate method for granting such access. Facilities typically have designated procedures for authorized individuals to obtain temporary or secondary login credentials, ensuring accountability and adherence to security protocols.
Choice C rationale:
Unit clerks, while often responsible for administrative tasks within a unit, do not have a clinical role that necessitates access to patient information through the nurse's password. Sharing a password with a unit clerk could lead to unauthorized access and potential privacy violations.
Choice D rationale:
The facility's information system representative is responsible for maintaining the technical infrastructure of the computer system, but they do not require access to patient information through individual nurse passwords. They have their own authorized means of accessing the system for troubleshooting and maintenance purposes.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
A colostomy is a surgical opening in the abdomen that allows stool to pass through the colon and out of the body. While a colostomy may increase the risk of certain complications, such as dehydration and skin irritation, it does not directly increase the risk of aspiration. This is because the colostomy bypasses the upper digestive tract, where aspiration typically occurs.
Choice B rationale:
An ileostomy is a similar surgical opening in the abdomen, but it diverts the small intestine rather than the colon. Like a colostomy, an ileostomy does not directly increase the risk of aspiration. However, it may lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, which could indirectly contribute to aspiration risk.
Choice C rationale:
Enteral feedings through an NG tube are a common way to provide nutrition to patients who cannot eat by mouth. However, these feedings can also increase the risk of aspiration. This is because the NG tube bypasses the normal swallowing mechanisms, which help to protect the airway. If the feeding tube is not properly positioned or if the patient has impaired gastric motility, formula could enter the lungs and cause aspiration pneumonia.
Choice D rationale:
A chest tube is a drainage tube that is inserted into the chest cavity to remove air or fluid. While a chest tube may cause some discomfort and respiratory issues, it does not directly increase the risk of aspiration.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
This question addresses HIPAA privacy regulations and professional ethics regarding patient confidentiality. The nurse must identify the correct procedural response to unauthorized inquiries, ensuring that protected health information is not disclosed to staff members who are not involved in the patient's direct care.
Choice A rationale: Referring inquiries to the nursing supervisor is the correct professional action when dealing with potentially inappropriate requests for information. The supervisor ensures that facility policies and privacy regulations are upheld, preventing unauthorized disclosure of protected health information to peers.
Choice B rationale: Transferring calls directly to the patient room violates the patient's privacy and right to confidentiality. The nurse cannot determine if the caller is authorized to receive information, and allowing direct access may expose the patient to unwanted contact or information breaches.
Choice C rationale: Acknowledging that a specific individual is a patient on the unit is a breach of confidentiality under HIPAA. Information regarding a patient's presence or location in a facility is protected, and confirming this status to unauthorized personnel is strictly prohibited.
Choice D rationale: Contacting the provider is unnecessary and inappropriate for managing calls from other staff members. The nurse has a duty to protect patient privacy personally and should not shift the burden of screening these unauthorized inquiries to the healthcare provider.
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