Taking picture of patient?

Hello all-
A co-worker of mine cared for a minor celebrity and was herself a fan. She wanted a picture with the patient and asked if I wanted to get one too. I declined. She took the picture after the patient was discharged. The patient was dressed and standing outside the room.
After having a very busy day I didnt think much about it. I told another co-worker about myself not "getting a picture" with this patient and then I thought I was glad I didnt choose to, because I didnt think it was right (although it would have been neat to have a picture). The co-worker I told, reported this Nurse to management.
This Nurse had a meeting with management and her job is in jeopardy.
Is this wrong? I personally think it is, but I would never want to get my co-worker into trouble. I feel so bad by saying anything as it is affecting her.

Also this staff member was contacted that evening by this former patient for a bleeding IV site issue at discharge and was instructed to go to the ED (I thought calling 911 would have been better as he was at home). My co-worker met the patient in the ED after she was clocked out and off duty to see how the patient was. Do you think this is inappropriate?

I feel badly for her.

What do you all think?
No that's just completely wrong and I'm glad to hear her job is in jeopardy over this.

She went way over the line. How and why did this person contact the nurse to ask about the bleeding? It angers me that people do this. Even if the minor celebrity was friendly and congenial on the outside they should expect to be treated the same as anyone else when they are in the hospital. Very unprofessional.

Quote from nursel56How and why did this person contact the nurse to ask about the bleeding? .

Unlike the first poster I wouldn't say I'm gald her job is in jeopardy because I would never wish bad on someone. However, taking the picture was out of line. HIPPA violation whether the patient said it was ok or not. About the bleeding IV? Depends on how the pt contacted the nurse. And depending on whether this is her first offense or not will probably determine whether or not she'll keep her job.

I have more "trouble" with the tattling nurse.....what exactly was she reporting? what problem? Is she just envious? and where in the world was the nurse supposed to chart on the IV site of a person whom was no longer a patient?

Quote from DazglueUnlike the first poster I wouldn't say I'm gald her job is in jeopardy because I would never wish bad on someone. However, taking the picture was out of line. HIPPA violation whether the patient said it was ok or not. About the bleeding IV? Depends on how the pt contacted the nurse. And depending on whether this is her first offense or not will probably determine whether or not she'll keep her job.

Quote from rkitty198She was contacted by the patient during the shift, right before it ended by phone. The patient may have called the hospital or was given our floor phone number, because she was contacted via phone on the unit. I also think this is wrong, yet I still feel badly for her. She is a good Nurse, she just made a very bad choice in doing what she did.She also didnt chart about the phone call and the patients bleeding. This same co-worker who told management told management about the bleeding IV situation. So that is also a situation that is against her.

You didn't state if the patient was asked if a photo was OK or not. Many units and hospitals have policies on staff taking pictures. She may have violated the policy, and the patient's privacy. Charting on the phone call may have been problematic if she didn't have access to the chart. As for her meeting the patient in the ER, it would only be appropriate if the patient had invited her. Since the nurse was no longer involved in the patient's care, nosing around the ER would be a HIPPA violation.

Quote from dajulienessBut put yourself in the family of that patients shoes. How would you like it if the nurse that took care of your family member was playing paparazzi? I'd be fuming. When people do wrong things.. they must face the consequences.

Quote from NotFloUm, if that patient is an alert and oriented adult I would say it's the patient's decision if they want to play paparazzi or not. What does the family have to do with it? If I were the mother of an adult minor celebrity I can't say as if I would be fuming about it at all.

very inappropriate. on my unit we very frequently have famous people. we do not act like we know who they are at all, except for our patient. we never ask them for anything (autographs, pictures, etc) as they are there for medical care and deserve their privacy. sometimes they sign things and give them to us on their own, but it should never be asked for.

Just curious, why would it be considered a violation if the patient said it was okay to take the picture?