As a nurse receiving a bomb threat call, which of the following actions should you take to ensure safety and assist authorities? (Select all that apply)

Rationale:

A. The unit clerk is incorrect because an electronic health record (EHR) password is confidential and linked to the individual nurse’s identity. Allowing a unit clerk to use the nurse’s login would constitute unauthorized access to protected health information (PHI). This violates HIPAA regulations, compromises the accuracy of audit trails, and prevents the facility from identifying who performed specific chart entries or data retrieval. Unit clerks who are allowed to access records must be issued their own usernames and passwords.

B. No one is correct because an EHR password must never be shared with any other person under any circumstance. Each password serves as a digital signature that identifies all actions taken in the medical record, including documentation, medication administration verification, and order review. Sharing this password eliminates accountability, increases the risk of documentation errors, and exposes the facility to legal liability if a breach occurs. HIPAA and facility policies strictly mandate that every user accesses PHI only under their own authorized credentials. Therefore, the nurse must keep her password private at all times.

C. A nursing student completing a preceptorship on the unit is incorrect because students must be granted their own temporary, restricted EHR access if allowed by the facility. Sharing a nurse’s password with a student is a direct violation of confidentiality standards. It also risks improper documentation or access to information beyond the student’s scope of involvement. The facility must maintain clear tracking of who enters or alters data, which is impossible when credentials are shared.

D. The nurse manager is incorrect because having a higher-level position does not justify using another nurse’s credentials. Managers have their own passwords with access permissions appropriate to their role. Sharing passwords, even with supervisors, violates HIPAA, breaks institutional policy, and may result in disciplinary action, termination, or legal consequences. Each user must log in under their own identity to maintain accurate accountability and ensure data security.

Rationale:
A. An adolescent female who is belligerent and has slurred speech is concerning and could indicate intoxication, hypoglycemia, or neurologic issues, but the scenario does not specify acute life-threatening symptoms. While urgent, she may be assessed shortly after more critical patients.

B. A toddler with a laceration on his forehead who is screaming is distressing and requires care, but unless the laceration involves heavy bleeding, neuro deficits, or airway compromise, it is not immediately life-threatening. The nurse can provide comfort and prepare for prompt evaluation.

C. A young adult with a painful sunburn of the face and arms is experiencing discomfort, but sunburn alone is not an emergent condition. Care can be scheduled without immediate risk to life or vital organ function.

D. A middle adult male who is diaphoretic and reports epigastric pain is correct because diaphoresis with epigastric pain can indicate acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or myocardial infarction. This is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring immediate evaluation and intervention. According to triage principles, patients with symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular compromise are the highest priority and must be seen first.