What is the nurse's role in safeguarding patient privacy during the use of electronic health records (EHRs) and mobile devices?

• A. Use secure login and log off; protect devices; share PHI only on need-to-know basis; report breaches; follow policies.
• B. Turn off security features to speed up access
• C. Access PHI for personal reasons
• D. Share passwords with colleagues to improve efficiency

Answer: (B)

Maintaining patient privacy with electronic health records and mobile devices rests on strong access controls and careful handling of information. The nurse should always use a secure login and log off when finished to ensure that only authorized personnel can view PHI. Keeping devices protected—password-protected, encrypted when possible, and not left unattended—prevents unauthorized access. Sharing PHI should only occur on a legitimate need-to-know basis, and breaches must be reported promptly and handled according to established policies. These steps align with privacy regulations and establish clear accountability for who accesses information and why.

Disabling security features to speed access, accessing PHI for personal reasons, or sharing passwords with colleagues would undermine confidentiality and increase the risk of a breach.