Nursing Professional Development Certification (NPD-BC) Practice Exam

When using the safe harbor method of deidentifying sensitive information, which of the following must be removed?

1. Picture of a nonfacial wound

2. Mother's maiden name

3. Year of birth

4. Diagnosis

The correct answer is: Mother's maiden name

In the context of the safe harbor method for deidentifying sensitive information, the process requires the removal of specific identifiers that could potentially lead to the identification of an individual. Removing the mother's maiden name is crucial because it is a unique identifier often used in security questions and can help link individuals to their personal records, making it a sensitive piece of information. The safe harbor method outlines that a set list of identifiers must be eliminated to adequately protect the privacy of individuals. Information like a mother's maiden name contributes to the risk of reidentification, hence its removal is essential in ensuring compliance with privacy standards. In contrast, while a picture of a nonfacial wound, year of birth, or diagnosis may carry some identifiable aspect, they do not inherently function as uniquely identifying information to the extent of a mother's maiden name, which is a direct personal identifier. Thus, the focus on removing the mother's maiden name aligns with best practices for maintaining confidentiality and security in the handling of sensitive information.