Question

Highlight each of the potential or actual breaches of confidentiality.

1. 1Leaving a client/ family file on the desk in the entrance to the centre.

2. Telling a client’s/ child’s mother over the telephone that their husband has been to visit.

3. Showing another client/ family a confidential file.

4. Sharing a telephone number for a client/ child with their grandmother.

5. Discussing a client/ child’s parents and their impending divorce with your team leader.

6. Leaving a learning story or Individual Support Plan in the photocopier.

7. Taking pictures on your iPad to send to your email address at home.

8. Leaving client/ children’s files in the boot of your car while you go shopping.

9. Sending a picture of a client/ child to your sister because she might like the client/child’s hat.

10. Checking a client/ child’s medication chart and asking a colleague why their dose has increased

Answer 1

Breach of confidentiality is the share of patient information to the third person who is not authorized to know the information intentionally or unintentionally.

1. It comes under actual breach of confidentiality, the nurse leaving the file at the table at the entrance has a high chance to look the patient information. This is against the confidentiality of information.

2. It does not come under breach of confidentiality. Visiting someone is not sharing of patient information to others.

3. This comes under actual breach of confidentiality. Showing the file of the client to another client's family is against confidentiality.

4. This does come under the potential breach of confidentiality. The nurse should not share the phone number without asking the client.

5. This does not come under breach of confidentiality because the team leader has the right to know everything about the client for proper treatment.

6. This comes under actual breach of confidentiality because the individual support plan include the individual preferences, needs, goals, health status, etc. This cannot be shared without the consent of the patient. Leaving the document in a photocopier is against confidentiality. The person may misuse the information.

7. This does not come under breach of confidentiality because the nurse in not clicking any information regarding the client or picture of the client.

8. This is an actual breach of confidentiality. Because carrying client files out of the hospital is not allowed.

9. This comes under a potential breach of confidentiality because the picture may visible the face of the patient. Without the consent of the patient taking pictures and sending is not allowed.

10. This does not come under breach of confidentiality because the nurse is asking the doubt regarding the increased medication dose to the colleague not sharing the information.