Please help with ethical dilemma

[stunurse]

After some impartial advice.

I'm a student nurse on placement. Fellow student nurse has just disclosed medical information about someone we both know, information they have discovered through their placement role. I know with 100% certainty that this information was not divulged but I have no proof.

I know I have to report this.... but I'm struggling with the thought of potential repercussions for fellow student nurse and selfishly worrying about how I might be seen as a snitch (I know! I'm nearly 50 fgs!)

This has been keeping me awake for 3 nights now, any advice about how to handle this would be gratefully received.

Ask your mentor for advice, that's what they're there for. If you have to bring it up as part of your ethic then don't feel guilty, that's part of the job.

What a horrible position to be in OP, but ultimately it’s the other student that’s out you there.
You do know what you need to do and will be doing the reputation of the profession a favour.
Really difficult though

Very tough situation, OP, but I think you have to report it. Your fellow student needs to understand the implications of breaching patient confidentiality.

How would you feel if you were the person being discussed? Report the gossip.

speak to your mentor or prof. you don't have to name names, over the course of your career it's an issue you will encounter more than a few times.
personally as a retired nurse you get good at stopping colleagues mid sentence. fingers in ears and chanting, putting your hand up and saying stop etc. telling your friend at some point how her comments have caused you stress and would prefer to have stricter confidentially boundaries for the time being (which of course you continue with and don't let up on).

What an absolutely horrible position to be in. Of course the advice will be to report it but I really feel for you, OP.

Thanks all, I’ll see if I can mention it without naming names to a member of the university staff - tutor perhaps - in the first instance.

Issue is, the person whose medical info has been shared is known to the university team too. Just mentioned as gossip but really not okay. I’ve been wondering if it's something that's best left with me so the person involved is spared the upset of knowing.

@stunurse, you can discuss that aspect with the person you talk to. Personally in my experience kinder not to.

I managed to get time to see someone this morning - so we’ll see what they say