During a training session on safeguarding client information, the nurse educator asks which of the following data points should be treated as protected health information (PHI) according to HIPAA regulations. (Select All that Apply.)
Client's Social Security number
Medication brand name listed in a general hospital formulary
Patient's medical record number
Photographs taken during the patient's hospitalization
Nurse's notes documenting the patient's diagnosis
Public hospital directory listing patient names for visitors
Patient's assigned hospital room number
Correct Answer : A,C,D,E,G
Rationale:
A. Client's Social Security number is correct. Social Security numbers are unique identifiers linked to an individual and are considered PHI under HIPAA. Unauthorized disclosure could lead to identity theft, fraud, or privacy violations, making protection mandatory.
B. Medication brand name listed in a general hospital formulary is incorrect. A general formulary does not identify an individual patient; it is publicly available information about the medications stocked by a hospital. PHI must be individually identifiable, so generic medication lists without patient linkage are not protected.
C. Patient's medical record number is correct because it is a unique identifier directly linked to an individual patient. PHI includes any data that could allow someone to identify a patient, and medical record numbers meet this criterion.
D. Photographs taken during the patient's hospitalization are correct. Any image that could identify a patient, even if the patient’s face is partially visible or other unique features are shown, is considered PHI. These images must be safeguarded to prevent unauthorized disclosure.
E. Nurse's notes documenting the patient's diagnosis are correct. Clinical notes contain individually identifiable health information about the patient, including diagnoses, treatments, and observations. This documentation is PHI and must be secured and shared only with authorized personnel.
F. Public hospital directory listing patient names for visitors is incorrect. While the directory may include patient names, it does not include medical information, diagnoses, or treatment data. It is intended for visitor access and does not constitute PHI under HIPAA unless additional health-related identifiers are present.
G. Patient's assigned hospital room number is correct. Room numbers, when combined with other identifiers or in the context of a hospital setting, can be used to identify a specific patient, and therefore are considered PHI.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Rationale:
A. To designate a healthcare proxy is correct because an advanced directive allows a patient to appoint a healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney for healthcare. This individual is authorized to make medical decisions on the patient’s behalf if the patient becomes unable to communicate or make informed decisions. Advanced directives may also include living wills that specify the patient’s preferences for treatments in specific situations.
B. To request specific medications is incorrect because while patients can express preferences in an advanced directive, the document primarily addresses overall medical treatment decisions and the designation of a decision-maker, not specific medication orders.
C. To provide consent for medical procedures is incorrect because consent is usually obtained at the time of a specific procedure. An advanced directive is intended to guide care when the patient cannot provide informed consent, not to serve as routine procedural consent.
D. To provide legal protection for healthcare providers is incorrect because the purpose of an advanced directive is to protect the patient’s wishes, not to shield healthcare providers. Legal protection may be an indirect benefit if providers follow the patient’s directives, but this is not the primary purpose.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. 32 units is incorrect because this does not reflect the sum of the prescribed doses. It may result from mistakenly adding only part of the insulin doses.
B. 14 units is incorrect because this represents only the regular insulin dose and does not include the NPH insulin dose. Administering only 14 units would under-treat the patient.
C. 42 units is correct because the nurse should prepare the total combined dose of insulin:
14 units (regular) + 28 units (NPH) = 42 units total
In practice, when drawing up regular and NPH insulin in the same syringe, the clear (regular) insulin is drawn first, followed by the cloudy (NPH) insulin to prevent contamination. Ensuring the total correct dose is administered is essential for maintaining safe and effective blood glucose control.
D. 28 units is incorrect because this represents only the NPH insulin dose. Administering only 28 units would result in insufficient coverage for the rapid-acting component (regular insulin) needed for postprandial glucose control.
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