Confidentiality and Privacy
To understand the limits of appropriate use of social
media, it is important to have an understanding of
confidentiality and privacy in the health care context.
Confidentiality and privacy are related, but distinct
concepts:
Any patient information learned by the nurse during the
course of treatment must be safeguarded by that nurse.
Such information may only be disclosed to other
members of the health care team for the purpose of
providing care for the patient.
Confidential information should be shared only with the
patient’s informed consent, when legally required or
where failure to disclose the information could result in
significant harm. Beyond these very limited exceptions, a
nurse is obligated to safeguard confidential information.