Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

Are nursing notes protected under HIPAA?

1. Yes, they are considered PHI

2. No, they are not protected

3. Only if written by a registered nurse

4. If they involve patient identification, yes

The correct answer is: Yes, they are considered PHI

Nursing notes are indeed considered protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act establishes guidelines to safeguard the confidentiality and security of patient information, which includes any notes and documentation that relate to a patient’s health status, treatment, or care — aspects typically covered in nursing notes. Nursing notes often contain sensitive information regarding a patient’s medical history, treatment plans, observations, and personal identifiers that link the notes directly to the individual patient. Because these notes serve as a critical part of patient care documentation, they are classified as PHI, which means that they are subject to the privacy and security protections outlined in HIPAA. This ensures that only authorized personnel have access to the information and that it is held to strict confidentiality standards to protect patient privacy.