Nursing

Accurate documentation can help your facility avoid litigation

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, August 18, 2006

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Now more than ever before, the medical record is used for many purposes and by many people who focus on specific areas of the clinical record or particular words/phrases to determine cause and effect. It's crucial to understand that documentation is the key to avoiding allegations of malpractice, substandard or poor nursing care, and denial of reimbursement.

The nurse should ask himself or herself the following questions:

  • What is the purpose of this entry?
  • Did I use a process that ensures clear, complete, and concise documentation?
  • Did I follow my organization's policies and procedures for documentation?
  • When I audit my nursing documentation have I communicated the information clearly to other team members or anyone who reads this clinical record?



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