Question

A nurse is performing a home visit for a client who has TB. As the nurse is leaving the clients house a neighbor asks "is it true that my neighbor has TB?", which response should the nurse make?

a. Do you have questions about TB?
b. Respiratory disorders
c. Consult with the local school nurse to schedule yearly vision screenings for students
d. AA assists a client who has an addiction to alcohol with developing a daily recovery program

Answer 1

The nurse should not confirm or deny that the neighbor has TB due to patient confidentiality laws. Instead, the nurse can offer to provide general information about TB and its transmission without discussing any patient's health status.

Step-by-step explanation:

In response to the question about a neighbor inquiring if their neighbor has TB (tuberculosis), the nurse must adhere to privacy laws and medical ethics, particularly HIPAA in the United States, which mandates the protection of patient health information. Therefore, the nurse should not disclose any information about the patient's health status to the neighbor. A professional and ethical response could be to provide general information about TB without confirming or denying the neighbor's condition. One potential response that respects patient confidentiality while still addressing the neighbor's concern could be:

"

Do you have questions about TB? I can provide information about how TB is spread and how to protect yourself, but I cannot discuss the health status of anyone due to confidentiality laws.

"

This answer maintains the confidentiality of the patient while offering helpful information to the neighbor, showcasing the responsibility of healthcare professionals to both inform and protect.