Monday, March 9, 2015

Documenting Respiratory, Cardiovascular and Neurological Systems

General observations made during the initial assessment of a patient include their appearance, mobility, ability to communicate, and cognitive function.  Use this table to evaluate your general assessment skills and how you record your findings. If you identify areas you are shallow in, and then make the appropriate adjustments the next time you record patient care.  


Guidelines for General Observations

Respiratory system
After examining the respiratory system, document the following:
Assessed
Rate and rhythm or respirations
Auscultated
The lung fields
Inspected
Sputum for color, consistency and other characteristics.
Cardiovascular system
After examining the cardiovascular system, document the following:
Auscultated
For heart sounds
Assessed
Heart rate and rhythm
Assessed
The color and temperature of the extremities
Assessed
The peripheral pulses; record the quality by “number”
Inspected
For edema (pitting; record by “number”)
Inspected
The neck veins (distention)
Neurological system
After examining the neurological system, document the following:
Inspected
The patient’s head for evidence of trauma
Assessed
The patient’s level of consciousness, including orientation to time, place, person and situation
Assessed
The patient’s ability to follow commands
Assessed
The patient’s pupillary reactions and cranial nerve function
Assessed
The patient’s extremities for movement and sensation


Top 5 Malpractice Claims Made Against Nursing Professionals


Chances are at some point in your career, you will either:
  • Have a claim made against your professional services.
  • You will be named in a group lawsuit - whether as part of a larger group of health care professionals and/or included with your health care facility.
  • Witness a negligent act by another health care professional during the course of a normal work day.
  • Be deposed to testify on behalf of yourself, your employer or colleague. 

No matter what the situation, being involved in any allegation of malpractice can be emotionally and financially devastating for all parties.   However, if you are specifically named in the malpractice suit, your asset, reputation and career could all be in jeopardy.  It is important to understand the most common allegations and how they happen in order to minimize your risk.  Most malpractice calms involve at least one of the following allegations:
  1. Failure to follow standards of care
  2. Failure to use equipment responsibly
  3. Failure to document
  4. Failure to assess and monitor the patient
  5. Failure to communicate.

I will discuss these five common allegations in the coming blog posts, so stay in touch!

Friday, March 6, 2015

Documenting GU, Skin and Reproductive Systems


General observations made during the initial assessment of a patient include their appearance, mobility, ability to communicate, and cognitive function.  Use this table to evaluate your general assessment skills and how you record your findings. If you identify areas you are shallow in, and then make the appropriate adjustments the next time you record patient care. 




Guidelines for General Observations

Genitourinary system
After examining the genitourinary system, document the following:
Assessed
For bladder distention or incontinence
Inspected
The genitalia for rashes, edema, or deformity, if indicated.  (inspection can be waived as appropriate)
Integumentary system
After examining the integumentary system, document the following:
Inspected
The patient for sores, lesions, scars, pressure ulcers, rashes, bruises, or petechiae.  Record on the skin assessment form upon admission. 
Assessed
The patient’s skin turgor.
Reproductive system
After examining the reproductive system, document the following:
Inspected
The genitalia for sexual maturity and abnormal discharge, if indicated
Performed
A breast examination, if permitted, and whether you found abnormalities


Top 5 Malpractice Claims Made Against Nursing Professionals


Chances are at some point in your career, you will either:
  • Have a claim made against your professional services.
  • You will be named in a group lawsuit - whether as part of a larger group of health care professionals and/or included with your health care facility.
  • Witness a negligent act by another health care professional during the course of a normal work day.
  • Be deposed to testify on behalf of yourself, your employer or colleague. 
No matter what the situation, being involved in any allegation of malpractice can be emotionally and financially devastating for all parties.   However, if you are specifically named in the malpractice suit, your asset, reputation and career could all be in jeopardy.  It is important to understand the most common allegations and how they happen in order to minimize your risk.  Most malpractice calms involve at least one of the following allegations:
  1. Failure to follow standards of care
  2. Failure to use equipment responsibly
  3. Failure to document
  4. Failure to assess and monitor the patient
  5. Failure to communicate.

I will discuss these five common allegations in the coming blog posts, so stay in touch!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Documenting EENT, GI, and Musculoskeletal Systems



General observations made during the initial assessment of a patient include their appearance, mobility, ability to communicate, and cognitive function.  Use this table to evaluate your general assessment skills and how you record your findings. If you identify areas you are shallow in, and then make the appropriate adjustments the next time you record patient care. 


Guidelines for General Observations

Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
After examining the eyes, ears, nose, and throat, document the following:
Assessed
The patient’s ability to see objects with or without corrective lenses as appropriate
Assessed
The patient’s ability to hear spoken words clearly
Inspected
The patient’s eyes and ears for discharge; the nasal mucous membranes for dryness, irritation, and the presence of blood; and teeth for cleanliness
Assessed
How well the patient’s dentures fit, if appropriate
Assessed
The condition of the oral mucous membranes
Palpated
The lymph nodes in the neck
Gastrointestinal system
After examining the gastrointestinal system, document the following:
Auscultated
For bowel sounds in all quadrants
Assessed
For abdominal distention or ascites
Palpated
The abdomen to assess for tenderness
Musculoskeletal system
After examining the musculoskeletal system, document the following:
Assessed
The range of motion of major joints
Assessed
For swelling at the joints
Assessed
For the presence of contractures, muscular atrophy, or deformities


Top 5 Malpractice Claims Made Against Nursing Professionals


Chances are at some point in your career, you will either:
  • Have a claim made against your professional services.
  • You will be named in a group lawsuit - whether as part of a larger group of health care professionals and/or included with your health care facility.
  • Witness a negligent act by another health care professional during the course of a normal work day.
  • Be deposed to testify on behalf of yourself, your employer or colleague. 

No matter what the situation, being involved in any allegation of malpractice can be emotionally and financially devastating for all parties.   However, if you are specifically named in the malpractice suit, your asset, reputation and career could all be in jeopardy.  It is important to understand the most common allegations and how they happen in order to minimize your risk.  Most malpractice calms involve at least one of the following allegations:
  1. Failure to follow standards of care
  2. Failure to use equipment responsibly
  3. Failure to document
  4. Failure to assess and monitor the patient
  5. Failure to communicate.



I will discuss these five common allegations in the coming blog posts, so stay in touch!

Friday, February 27, 2015

Documenting Communication and Cognitive Function

General observations made during the initial assessment of a patient include their appearance, mobility, ability to communicate, and cognitive function.  Use this table to evaluate your general assessment skills and how you record your findings. If you identify areas you are shallow in, and then make the appropriate adjustments the next time you record patient care. 

Guidelines for General Observations

Communication
Speech
Speaks clearly in English (or other spoken language)

Speaks with only one word responses; does not respond to verbal stimuli

Speech is slurred, hearse, loud, soft, incoherent, hesitant, slow, fast, or nonsensical

Has difficulty completing sentences due to shortness of breath or pain.
Hearing
Hears well enough to respond to questions

Hard of hearing; wears hearing aid; must speak loudly into left or right ear.

Deaf; reads lips or uses sign language
Vision
Sees well enough to read instructions in English or other language

Wears corrective lenses to see or to read

Cannot read.

Blind (one eye or both)
Cognitive functions
Awareness
Oriented x 3 and aware of surroundings and situation

Disoriented; unaware of time, place, person, or situation
Mood
Responds appropriately; talkative

Answers in one-word responses; offers information only when asked direct questions

Hesitates in answering questions; looks to family or support person before answering

Angry; states “Leave me alone” (use quotations to record what they say); speaks loudly and abruptly to family or support person(s).

Maintains or avoids eye contact
Thought processes
Maintains a conversation; makes relevant statements; follows commands appropriately

Mind wanders; makes irrelevant statements; follows commands inappropriately.

Top 5 Malpractice Claims Made Against Nursing Professionals


Chances are at some point in your career, you will either:
  • Have a claim made against your professional services.
  • You will be named in a group lawsuit - whether as part of a larger group of health care professionals and/or included with your health care facility.
  • Witness a negligent act by another health care professional during the course of a normal work day.
  • Be deposed to testify on behalf of yourself, your employer or colleague. 

No matter what the situation, being involved in any allegation of malpractice can be emotionally and financially devastating for all parties.   However, if you are specifically named in the malpractice suit, your asset, reputation and career could all be in jeopardy.  It is important to understand the most common allegations and how they happen in order to minimize your risk.  Most malpractice calms involve at least one of the following allegations:
  1. Failure to follow standards of care
  2. Failure to use equipment responsibly
  3. Failure to document
  4. Failure to assess and monitor the patient
  5. Failure to communicate.



I will discuss these five common allegations in the coming blog posts, so stay in touch!