Use of Personal Communication Devices in Patient Care Settings

Learning Goal: I’m working on a nursing writing question and need the explanation and answer to help me learn.

A nurse colleague uses his personal cell phone to take a photo of a patients wound and then sends a message with the photo to the primary care provider via a text. Please consider the following in your discussion post:

• What principles of patient confidentiality might be an issue? Consider legal and ethical.
• How might this nurse use a communication device to support safe patient practices?
• What would your organizations policy on ‘personal communication device use in a patient care setting’ reveal related to this case? (If your organization does not have a written policy, or you are not currently working in an organization, what do you think should be included in such a policy and why?)
  

  References

  Hebda, T., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2019). Handbook of informatics for nurses & healthcare professionals (6th ed.). Pearson.

• National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2011). White paper: A nurse’s guide to the use of social media.

• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). Health Information Privacy.