Being Accountable

Healthcare workers make many decisions on a daily basis that affect the care of their patients. One such decision could be to access the EHR of a patient from a remote location. When speaking specifically about the nursing profession, the CNA (2008) states that, “nurses are accountable for their actions and answerable for their practice” (p. 18). Best efforts need to be taken to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of patient information is not breached when accessing any EHR. Being aware of your surroundings, not leaving your computer unattended and not sharing your password with anyone are a few of the ways that patient information can be protected. Many organizations have policies and procedures put in place to ensure breaches do not happen. It is vital for nurses to practice within the limits of their competence and to seek additional information or to seek help from someone else when any aspect of care is beyond their level of competence (CNA, 2008).