As a nurse, HIPAA isn’t just background noise or a form you ask patients to sign. It’s the law that governs how you communicate, where you store patient info, what you can share—and with whom. It’s not just about doing the right thing. It’s about keeping your license, protecting your patients, and staying employed.
In this guide, we break down what nurses absolutely need to know about HIPAA — in plain English. Whether you’re new to nursing or need a refresher, this guide is for you.
What is HIPAA? An acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, HIPAA is designed to protect sensitive patient health information. For nurses, this means understanding what information is protected, how to keep it secure, and what not to do.
Imagine this: You accidentally mention a patient’s condition in the hallway or snap a photo in the break room where patient charts are visible. These simple acts can violate HIPAA and result in serious consequences for you and your employer.
The HIPAA Privacy Rule also gives an individual the right to access their own health records, including test results, labs, etc., from their physicians. In addition, it allows a personal representative authorized by the individual to access their health records.
With this background in mind, let’s examine some of the important aspects of HIPAA that nurses need to know.
Nurses should have a thorough understanding of what is deemed Protected Health Information (PHI) under HIPAA. According to The HIPAA Journal, insufficient knowledge about what constitutes PHI is a major driver of HIPAA-related complaints to the Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights.
Healthcare providers may share PHI about a patient with each other, provided all parties have an established relationship with the patient and the discloser reveals only the minimum amount of information needed by the recipient. This can be done without the patient’s consent.
Covered entities—medical facilities, nursing homes, and pharmacies—are required to put security measures in place to protect private information. These include:
As a nurse, you’re responsible for following these policies to protect your patients and yourself.
Nurses Might Not RealizeMany healthcare professionals may violate HIPAA without even realizing it. Examples of infractions include:
Bottom line? If someone doesn’t have a clinical need to know, refrain from sharing.
State and local laws protecting patient privacy may be more stringent than HIPAA requirements. In these cases, nurses must follow the stricter requirements.
When nurses violates HIPAA, the consequences may include:
HIPAA rules have been updated multiple times since 1996, most recently in 2024. To stay compliant, updated training on an annual basis is generally recommended. Employers will arrange this training for their nursing staff and other employees subject to HIPAA.
In addition to being fully versed in HIPAA, you’ll need to know much more if you aspire to make the transition from RN to nursing leader. The University of Texas Permian Basin’s CCNE-accredited online RN to BSN program was designed for busy nurses like you who want to provide a higher quality of care and have the opportunity to compete for advanced roles in the profession.
Our world-class, flexible program enables you to:
Give your nursing career the boost it needs. Find out more and apply to our online RN to BSN program today!
Sources:
https://www.hipaajournal.com/hipaa-compliance-for-nurses
https://www.healthit.gov/topic/hipaa-versus-state-laws
https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/hipaa/hipaa-violations-enforcement
https://www.hipaajournal.com/what-happens-nurse-violates-hipaa
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