Which action would be a violation of HIPAA?

Looking through the chart of a coworker admitted to your unit is indeed a violation of HIPAA because it involves accessing protected health information (PHI) without a legitimate reason related to patient care. Under HIPAA regulations, individuals are only permitted to access medical records that are necessary for the treatment or care of a patient. Since the coworker is not under your care, you have no justification for viewing their health information, which compromises their privacy and confidentiality.

In contrast, discussing patient care with another nurse can be permissible when it is necessary for the provision of care, as long as the conversation occurs in a confidential manner and does not disclose information unnecessarily. Documenting patient care in the correct medical record is acceptable and an essential part of providing and maintaining clear patient care information. Using patient information for educational purposes is also permissible when done in aggregate or anonymized forms, ensuring that individual identities are not disclosed.