Question

A student nurse provides care to an 18yo client. Which action maintains confidentiality?

A. Takes a picture of the client's wound to use for classroom discussion
B. Prints a copy of the client's medical record for educational purposes
C. Encourages a parent to be present during the physical exam of the client
D. Discloses client status over the phone when the caller provides the correct code

Answer 1

The action that maintains confidentiality for a client is to encourage a parent to be present during an exam, if the client consents. Sharing personal health information for educational purposes or to unauthorized individuals without consent breaches confidentiality.

Step-by-step explanation:

The action that maintains confidentiality for an 18-year-old client in a healthcare setting is C. Encourages a parent to be present during the physical exam of the client. This action does not violate confidentiality as long as the client consents to the presence of the parent. Options A and B involve sharing the client's personal health information without their explicit consent, which breaches confidentiality. Option D may be acceptable in certain contexts if the client has provided prior consent to disclose information to callers with the correct code, but it must be handled with strict adherence to privacy regulations and the client's wishes.

In healthcare, a primary consideration is to always respect the client's rights to privacy and dignity, which includes protecting their health information as prescribed by laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This law requires healthcare providers to maintain strict confidentiality of patient records. Respect for client confidentiality is paramount, and informed consent should always be sought before sharing a client's personal health information, even for educational purposes.