Question

A nurse is entering a pharmacy request for patient medication in the patients electronic health record (EHR) while seated at a computer in the nursing station. A physician approaches her and asks her to access another patients EHR so that he can look at the patients laboratory report. Which of the following is the best action for the nurse to take?

1) Access the lab report for the physician.
2) Log off the computer before proceeding.
3) Quickly finish the pharmacy requisition before the physician logs on.
4) Allow the physician to access the laboratory report without logging out.

Answer 1

The best action for the nurse is to log off the computer to maintain patient privacy before the physician accesses another patient's EHR. Not taking this step can lead to violations of healthcare regulations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate action for the nurse when asked by a physician to access another patient's electronic health record (EHR) would be to log off the computer before the physician proceeds. This action is crucial in maintaining patient privacy and adhering to healthcare regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The nurse should not access the report for the physician, allow the physician to view it without logging off, or quickly finish her work before the physician logs on, as these actions could lead to a breach of patient confidentiality and could have serious professional repercussions for the nurse.