Question

The nurse overhears a group of students discussing their client in the elevator. What is the nurse's best action? Select all that apply.

Ask the students not to discuss the client among themselves. Complete an incident report and submit to the nurse manager. Ignore the students and continue on. Notify the instructor about the students' violation of client confidentiality. Ask them to take the conversation to a private place.

Answer 1

The nurse should ask the students to stop discussing the client in a public space, complete an incident report, and notify the instructor about the breach of confidentiality.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse overhears students discussing a client's confidential information in an inappropriate setting such as an elevator, it is integral to take definitive actions to uphold the values of patient privacy and confidentiality. The nurse has several responsibilities in this situation:

• Ask the students to stop discussing the client in a public space.
• Complete an incident report and submit it to the nurse manager.
• Notify the instructor about the students' breach of confidentiality.

Ignoring the situation is not an appropriate response, as it does not address the breach of confidentiality nor does it educate the students about proper behavior regarding patient information. The nurse should make sure the students understand the seriousness of discussing patient information in public spaces and the need for privacy and discretion in all healthcare settings.