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Nursing vocabulary · Documentation

Confidentiality

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/ˌkɑːnfɪˌdɛnʃiˈæləti/nounCore term

In nursing, confidentiality means: The duty to keep information about patients private and to share it only with people who need it for their care or have a legal right to it.

In Turkish: gizlilik, hasta mahremiyeti, sır saklama yükümlülüğü

How it is used

A core professional duty that comes up with handovers in public areas, phone calls from relatives, social media and computer screens left open. Typical phrases: 'breach of confidentiality', 'patient confidentiality', 'I'm sorry, I can't give that information over the phone.'

Example sentences

  1. Because of patient confidentiality, I can only discuss his results with him or with people he has agreed to.

  2. Posting a photo of the ward online could be a breach of confidentiality.

Common collocations

  • patient confidentiality
  • breach of confidentiality
  • maintain confidentiality
  • duty of confidentiality
  • nursing notesThe written or electronic record in which nurses describe a patient's condition, the care given and any changes or events during each shift.
  • next of kinThe person closest to a patient, usually a family member or partner, who is contacted first with news about them.
  • informed consentA patient's agreement to a treatment or procedure, given freely after they have been told and have understood what it involves, its risks, benefits and alternatives.
  • chartTo write down information about a patient, such as observations, medicines given or fluids taken, in their record or on a special form.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Documentation

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.