What is the nurse's role in safeguarding patient privacy according to HIPAA?

• A. Post patient details on social media for transparency
• B. Protect PHI, share only on a need-to-know basis, secure electronic records, obtain consent for disclosures when required, report breaches.
• C. Release PHI to neighbors
• D. Keep information on paper only

Answer: (B)

Protecting patient privacy means actively guarding PHI and using it only to support patient care and required operations. The nurse's role is to limit access to PHI to individuals who have a legitimate need to know, follow the minimum necessary standard, and keep electronic records secure with appropriate safeguards such as login credentials, audit trails, and encryption when applicable. Disclosure should occur only with patient consent or authorization when required by law, and any breach of privacy or security must be reported promptly according to policy. Choices that involve posting patient information on social media, sharing PHI with neighbors, or insisting on paper-only records fail to meet these protections and undermine confidentiality; HIPAA requires secure handling of PHI in all formats and controlled disclosures.