University of Newcastle

School of Nursing & Midwifery

POLICY

Student Confidentiality And The Management of Dual Relationships Whilst on Clinical Placement

 Nursing students must be aware that dual relationships may compromise care outcomes, and always conduct professional relationships with the primary intent of benefit to the individual.  Students are to inform their facilitator, mentor and NUM immediately they become aware of the presence of a fellow nursing student or other known persons, referring to the University policy and explaining why they are not to have direct responsibility for the care of such a patient.  Students on clinical placement are not to take responsibility for the care of fellow students within your program and other people known to you from the University of Newcastle. Interactions if they occur are to be brief and courteous.  Following consultation with either the Head of School or the Director of Clinical Education, students may be requested to complete their clinical placement in an alternative clinical area or the student may request to complete their clinical placement at an alternative venue.  Students are to maintain complete confidentiality regarding the admission or care of fellow students. Breaches of confidentiality are to be immediately reported to Head of School.  Failure to uphold confidentiality will result in a charge of Misconduct.

Students are required to uphold Statement 5 of the ANMAC Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia (2008) as the standard for confidentiality “Nurses treat personal information obtained in a professional capacity as private and confidential.” This is found at: http://www.anmc.org.au/userfiles/file/research_and_policy/codes_project/New%20Code%20of %20Professional%20Conduct%20for%20Nurses%20August%202008.pdf

Students are to be familiar with the Health Records and Information Privacy Act (2004), as it relates to students, which specifies that:

a) failure to comply with the Health Privacy Principles and these Guidelines as they relate to the handling of that information will be a breach of the Act; b) they are only entitled to access health information necessary or essential to them properly fulfilling the terms of their placement/work experience; c) they undertake not to disclose health information obtained in the course of the training, except as authorised by law; Review this information at: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/privacynsw/ll_pnsw.nsf/pages/PNSW_nswprivacy_laws

Students are also to be familiar with the NMB’s Boundaries of Practice Statement (1997). This specifies that nurses, in fulfilling their professional responsibilities, must ensure the maintenance of trust and the integrity of their patients and clients, particularly in situations where there may be a potential overlap between nurses' professional and personal relationships. Review at: http://www.nmb.nsw.gov.au/Boundaries-of-Professional-Practice/default.aspx

January 2007