In their everyday operations, nurses deal with private information belonging to the patients; whether in their nursing stations, exam rooms, in offices or in patients’ bedsides (Health Information Technology, 2007). As a result, they may become desensitized to how important it is to maintain patients’ information privacy (Health Information Technology, 2007). However, there are different practices that can be applied by nurses in ensuring protection of health information. These practices and the rationale behind them include:
The most important thing that nurses can do to ensure that patient’s information privacy is guaranteed is creating a means for authentication. This is where; anybody accessing the information can only do so upon entry of a password to an already created nurse portal from which he or she can be able to access any information they want (Borten, 2016). The portal serves as a ‘gate’ in accessing electronic health records and the user name and password as the ‘key’. Consequently, anybody who does not have the necessary authentication means cannot be able to access the information (Borten, 2016).
However, there is need for the users of the information to be inducted on the best methods of creating strong passwords that cannot be hacked by unauthorised persons (Borten, 2016). It is the role of the information communication technology to install and teach the nurses on the appropriate use of the electronic records. Similarly, there is need for cautioning the nurses on the best way to use the authentication tools (Borten, 2016). For example, they should be constantly reminded that they should log-out from their portal after they are done so as to prevent unauthorised access to the electronic rerecords by unauthorised persons using the already opened portal (Borten, 2016).
In addition to the use of passwords and usernames, the institutions can institute biometric means such as finger prints, voice and face recognition systems and/or iris scanning systems to increase enhanced identification of individual access into the records (Borten, 2016). The use of these more advanced means (biometrics) are more secure because they require the physical presence of a an individual as compared to the password and username authentication means of prohibiting access which can be used even in the absence of a nurse (Borten, 2016).
Besides, accessibility to electronic systems for electronic health records is at risk of being exposed to unauthorised persons, especially for desktop, tablet, Smartphone sand laptop screens, whether on a working station, on mobile carts or in exam rooms (Angst, Block, D’Arcy, & Kelley, 2017). This has the potential of increasing the chances of visual hacking (Angst, Block, D’Arcy, & Kelley, 2017). As a result, there need to protect the electronic data from unauthorised intrusion or damage when environmental hazards arises (Health Information Technology, 2007). Nurses should ensure that they place these devices in such a way that they do not facilitate visual hacking, either through side-angle viewing or any other means (Health Information Technology, 2007). Besides, after using these devices, they should return them to the designated special rooms specifically built in such a way to protect data from external hazards such as fire (Borten, 2016).
Furthermore, there is need for constant administrative control measures to ensure that all the systems put in place for maintaining privacy are functional at all times. For example, it is the role of the administration to conduct periodic reviews of all the systems in order to identify areas that may create chances of the information being privy to unauthorised personnel (Borten, 2016). As a result, if any system is not working as expected, impromptu rectification measures should be undertaken. This will ensure that the electronic records do not get to the wrong hands (Borten, 2016).
Importantly, there is need for constant training and revision of security measures to deal with routine measure that can be traced by unauthorised persons. For example, the passwords should be changed at some point (Borten, 2016). Besides, constant training of nurses by the information communication technology on the best and accurate use of systems is important. The training should be thoroughly done at the implementation stage and conducted throughout the use of a system. This can be either through the use of screen savers or notices (at the walls). For example, the nurses should be constantly reminded that they are supposed to log-out of their portal after use (Borten, 2016).
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