What is an appropriate action to protect a client's privacy in a long-term care facility?

Speaking with the client after visitors have left is an appropriate action to protect the client's privacy in a long-term care facility. This approach ensures that any personal or sensitive discussions can take place without the presence of other individuals who may not be authorized to hear that information. It fosters a confidential environment where the client may feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts, concerns, or health-related information.

In healthcare settings, safeguarding patient privacy is crucial, often mandated by laws and regulations such as HIPAA. Engaging with the client in a private time, particularly after visitors have departed, minimizes the risk of unintentional breaches of confidentiality and reinforces trust in the healthcare provider-client relationship.

Other actions, such as placing the medication record on the bedside table, can lead to unauthorized individuals accessing sensitive information, which compromises privacy. Giving report while standing at the nurse's station might expose patient details to others passing by, and placing a message board in the client's room could inadvertently share personal information with anyone who enters the room. Therefore, discussing matters with the client when privacy is assured is the best practice to maintain confidentiality.