A visitor walks out of a patient room and asks the nurse how his friend is doing. How should the nurse respond?

• A. What is your relationship with the patient?
• B. The patient is stable.
• C. I can share some details with you.
• D. Please come back later.

Answer: (A)

Protecting patient privacy and confidentiality is the main idea. When a visitor asks for information about a patient, the nurse must first determine whether the visitor is authorized to receive any details. The best response is to ask about the visitor’s relationship with the patient. This prompts the staff to verify authorization or patient consent before sharing anything. If the visitor is someone the patient has allowed to receive information, a brief update can be given or the nurse can facilitate sharing with the patient’s permission. If not authorized, the nurse should withhold details and offer to relay a message or arrange for the patient to share information directly. Other options either reveal details without consent or avoid addressing privacy, which isn’t appropriate.