Question

Your patient has an admitting diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. You receive a phone call at the nurses' station from a person who says he is the patient's minister and wants to know if the patient 'fell off the wagon again' and when visitation hours are. What is your best response?

1) Yes, the patient drank too much, but he should be fine in a few days. Visiting hours are 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.
2) We do not give out any information. Visitation hours in the hospital are from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. daily.
3) Please pray for the patient; he is in bad shape. You can visit him anytime between 9 A.M. and 6 P.M. daily.
4) Please contact the hospital's chief executive officer, who can give you the information you are requesting.

Answer 1

The best response is to not disclose any information about the patient and provide the hospital's visitation hours.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best response to the minister's question would be option 2) We do not give out any information. Visitation hours in the hospital are from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. daily.

It is important to prioritize patient privacy and confidentiality when dealing with inquiries from outside sources. By not disclosing any information about the patient's condition or whether they consumed alcohol, you are protecting their privacy rights.

Additionally, providing the information about the hospital's visitation hours allows the minister to plan their visit accordingly.