Question

Which is a nursing care error that violates the Health Insurance Probability and Accountability (HIPAA)?

1) Administering a stronger dose of drug than was ordered
2) Refusing to give a patient's daughter information over the phone
3) Informing the patient's medical power of attorney of a medication change
4) Leaving a copy of the patient's history and physical in the photocopier

Answer 1

A nursing care error that violates HIPAA is leaving a copy of a patient's history and physical in the photocopier, as it risks unauthorized disclosure of personal health information.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is designed to protect the privacy and security of patients’ personal health information (PHI). Among the options given, the nursing care error that violates HIPAA is leaving a copy of the patient’s history and physical in the photocopier. This mistake can lead to the unauthorized disclosure or access of PHI, which is a direct violation of HIPAA rules requiring the safeguarding of such information.

It’s important to understand that HIPAA allows the disclosure of information to a patient's designated medical power of attorney. Refusing to give information over the phone without proper authorization or giving a stronger dose than ordered, while they may be problematic for other reasons, do not in themselves constitute HIPAA violations.