Question

The licensed practical/vocational nurse (LP/VN) is caring for a client who is frequently admitted to the hospital with chronic renal failure. In the past, the client wanted his family and neighbors to visit freely and welcomed the nursing staff to share information about the client's health. The LP/VN is approached by the client's neighbor in the lobby of the hospital asking, Could you tell me where Mary Smith is and what is going on with her? Which is the best response to make to the client's neighbor?

a. Let me check to see what room your neighbor is in and her visitor status.
b. Oh, sure, I am caring for her; she is in room 1203.
c. You will need to check with Mary's family; she is not on my unit.
d. She is in room 1203, and she is having problems with her dialysis access.

Answer 1

The LP/VN should inform the neighbor to check with the client's family because the LP/VN cannot share confidential patient information.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best response to make to the client's neighbor is option c: You will need to check with Mary's family; she is not on my unit. Patient health information is confidential and should not be shared without the patient's permission. As a healthcare professional, it is important to respect the privacy and confidentiality of patients. Therefore, it is not appropriate to share information about the client's health with a neighbor without the client's explicit consent.