Question

An 18-year-old male is admitted under a Temporary Detention Order, and his mother is looking for him. What should the nurse do when the caller inquires about the patient's whereabouts?

a. Inform the caller you cannot provide any information about people on the unit.
b. Tell the caller the times of visiting hours.
c. Provide the caller with the patient's telephone number.
d. Tell the caller her son is going through admission procedures and will call her when he's settled in.

Answer 1

The nurse should inform the caller that they cannot provide any information about people on the unit, upholding patient confidentiality and healthcare laws.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should protect the patient's privacy and confidentiality in accordance with healthcare laws and ethical practice, especially since the patient is an adult and admitted under a Temporary Detention Order. The nurse should select option a: Inform the caller you cannot provide any information about people on the unit. While it is understandable for a parent to be concerned about their child's whereabouts and well-being, patient confidentiality must be respected unless the patient has given explicit permission to share information with family members. This also applies to cases involving adolescents where issues of sexual health and confidentiality can present a challenge in balancing the right to privacy with parental concerns.