Wisconsin Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Exam

What personal information is a CNA allowed to disclose over the phone?

1. Resident's medical history

2. Nothing without proper authorization

3. The resident's name only

4. Resident's attending physician

The correct answer is: Nothing without proper authorization

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is not allowed to disclose any personal information about a resident without proper authorization. This strict adherence to confidentiality is mandated by regulations concerning patient privacy, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The law is designed to protect sensitive patient information from being shared without the individual's consent, which includes medical history, details about their care, and other personally identifiable information. While the other options may seem plausible in certain contexts, they fail to uphold the fundamental requirement for authorization. Even sharing a resident's name or details about their attending physician can still lead to unauthorized disclosure of information if proper procedures are not followed. Therefore, maintaining strict confidentiality and only discussing patient information with authorized individuals is crucial in a healthcare setting.