You can’t access a patient’s chart for educational purposes.

You can only access a patient’s chart in order to provide health care or to assist in providing health care to the patient. No matter what your nursing role is, it is not appropriate to access a chart because you think it has educational value or you are curious about a particular clinical case. This is according to legislation, such as the Personal Health Information Protection Act, and CNO’s practice standards.

Personal health information belongs to the patient. You have a responsibility to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of a patient’s personal health information. When caring for a patient, you’re expected to obtain the patient’s consent before collecting, using or disclosing their information outside the health team or circle of care.

Respecting a patient’s privacy and keeping their information secure and confidential is critical for establishing trust with them. Trust is essential when establishing and maintaining the nurse-patient relationship because, as a patient, they are in a vulnerable position. As well, when a patient trusts the nurses in their circle of care, it builds respect for the nursing profession. Confidentiality and privacy breaches may cause patients to mistrust the nurses caring for them and negatively affect the nurse-patient relationship.

To learn more about your accountabilities to protect patient’s personal health information while providing care, read the Confidentiality and Privacy—Personal Health Information practice standard.

August 2019 Standard Quiz