I
think we’d all like our roles as nurses a whole lot better if we didn’t have to
document. I hear nurses say all the time that they spend more time DOCUMENTING
than taking care of patients. And sometimes, I agree.
But documentation
is an important part of what we do. Why? Well, documentation helps providers
identify problems and make appropriate treatment decisions; allows you to take
credit for the work you do; ensures that you’re practicing according to
standards of care; and helps your organization get the maximum reimbursement
for your hard work!!
However,
documentation can also be used against a nurse – especially when patients have bad outcomes.
