Before disclosing patient information over the phone, what should the nurse verify?

• A. The client's consent in writing
• B. The time of day
• C. The caller's identity and authorization to receive information
• D. The patient's age

Answer: (C)

Verifying who is on the other end of the line and confirming they have authorization to receive information protects patient privacy and aligns with privacy rules. When a nurse gets a phone request for protected health information, the priority is to confirm the caller’s identity and that they are a person who is allowed to receive that information. This prevents disclosing sensitive data to someone without proper authority, which is a key safeguard in protecting patient confidentiality.

In practice, this means confirming details like the caller’s name, their relationship to the patient, and any approved contacts listed in the chart, and, if needed, checking against the patient’s designated release of information or calling back to a verified number on file. If the caller cannot be verified or lacks authorization, the nurse should refrain from disclosing information and offer to follow up through approved channels. Time of day or the patient’s age do not determine whether disclosure is appropriate, and written consent may be required in specific situations but is not the sole determinant for what to disclose over the phone.