Question

The dialysis nurse looks across the treatment area and recognizes the pastor of the local church. The pastor is being interviewed by the unit admission nurse. The dialysis nurse knows that the nature of his treatment will bring them into some contact with each other on a regular basis. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate in this​ situation?

>The nurse should ignore the client​'s presence on the unit if not assigned to him.
>The nurse should always go over to welcome the​ client, regardless of clinical assignment.
>The nurse should ask to not be assigned to the care of this client.
>The nurse should not talk about the care of this client to members of his church.

Answer 1

The nurse should maintain confidentiality and not discuss the patient's care with members of his church. If the relationship may affect professional care, the nurse could request not to be assigned to the patient. Balancing professional and personal boundaries is vital.

Step-by-step explanation:

The dialysis nurse, upon recognizing a familiar individual entering the treatment area, must navigate professional boundaries and privacy laws carefully. In this scenario, the most appropriate action would be for the nurse to not discuss the care of this client with members of his church. Discussing a patient's care or treatment with anyone outside of the healthcare setting without the patient's consent is a violation of privacy laws and professional codes of conduct, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Nurses are expected to provide respectful care to all patients, regardless of prior connections, and must maintain confidentiality at all times. While it would be friendly and courteous to welcome the client if they were assigned to them, ensuring that patient care remains the priority is paramount.

If, in this situation, the nurse believes that their relationship with the patient might interfere with the professional care or privacy of the patient, it would then be suitable to ask not to be assigned to the patient. The actions to ignore the client's presence if not assigned or to always go over to welcome the client, regardless of clinical assignment, may not appropriately balance the professional and personal boundaries required in healthcare settings.