How do you balance your duty to report abuse with the obligation to maintain patient confidentiality?

I’ve been a nurse for almost 40 years specialty has been emergency room and nursing education. Here’s the best answer you can receive. Your duty is to report the abuse. If you read the nurse practice act it outlines that you are responsible to report abuse. That reporting does not violate patient confidentiality. Also, you could be in violation of a law because of what we do we are responsible for the reporting. If you are worried about your name being associated with it, there are compliance hotline’s, and there are other hotline numbers that you can also use to contact them.

there is no hippa law for abuse. We are ALL MANDATED REPORTERS. Report it! You can do so anonymously but it has to be done.

Hi! This is the deal. In most states if a healthcare worker suspects abuse, they are obligated to report it. If the authorities find out, the employee's license could be revoked. You are obligated to report your suspicions.