A nurse is teaching a newly hired nurse about the legal aspects of documentation.
Which of the following statements by the newly hired nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching?
“I should document only normal findings to avoid alarming the client.”.
“I should document any incident that occurs during my shift and notify the provider.”.
“I should document in advance to save time and ensure accuracy.”.
“I should document my personal opinions about the client’s condition and care.”.
The Correct Answer is B
“I should document any incident that occurs during my shift and notify the provider.” This statement indicates an understanding of the legal aspects of documentation, which include:.
• Documenting accurately, objectively, and completely to provide evidence of care delivery and support the nurse’s moral and legal responsibilities.
• Documenting any change in the patient’s condition, treatments, medications, interventions, client responses, and complaints.
• Documenting any incident that occurs during the shift and notifying the provider to ensure appropriate follow-up and prevent further harm.
• Documenting in a timely manner to minimize errors and omissions.
The other choices are wrong because:.
• Choice A is wrong because documenting only normal findings can mislead the client and other health professionals about the actual status of the client. It can also impede patient care and hinder the nurse’s legal defense in the event of a malpractice lawsuit.
• Choice C is wrong because documenting in advance can compromise the accuracy and integrity of the documentation. It can also lead to legal action if the documented events do not match the actual events.
• Choice D is wrong because documenting personal opinions about the client’s condition and care can be considered unprofessional, biased, and disrespectful. It can also damage the nurse-client relationship and expose the nurse to legal liability.
Normal ranges for documentation depend on the type of information being documented, such as vital signs, laboratory values, assessment findings, etc.
They may vary according to different sources and standards.
Nurses should follow the policies and procedures of their institution and use their clinical judgment when documenting abnormal findings.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","D"]
Explanation
The nurse should use a personal password to access the system and log off when finished, and report any breaches or attempted breaches of security to the appropriate personnel.
These actions ensure confidentiality and security of the client’s information by preventing unauthorized access and disclosing any violations.
Choice B is wrong because sharing the password with other nurses who need to access the system violates the principle ofminimum necessary access, which means that only those who need the information for a specific purpose should have access to it.
Choice C is wrong because printing out a copy of the client’s record and storing it in a locked cabinet creates a risk ofloss, theft, or unauthorized disclosureof the paper record.The nurse should avoid printing out electronic health records unless absolutely necessary, and should follow the proper disposal procedures if they do.
Choice E is wrong because deleting any information that is incorrect or outdated from the system may compromise theintegrity and availabilityof the client’s information.The nurse should follow the established policies and procedures for correcting or updating electronic health records, which may include adding an addendum or annotation to the original entry, but not deleting it.
Correct Answer is ["A","B","D","E"]
Explanation
A. Log off the system when leaving the workstation.
This is a correct action to ensure confidentiality and security of electronic health records (EHRs).
Logging off prevents unauthorized access to client information by other users who may use the same workstation.It also protects the system from malware or cyberattacks that may compromise the data integrity or availability.
B. Shred any printouts before discarding them.
This is also a correct action to ensure confidentiality and security of EHRs.
Shredding any printouts that contain client information prevents them from being accessed by unauthorized persons who may find them in the trash or recycling bins.It also complies with the legal and ethical obligations to protect the privacy of clients.
C. Use a personal digital assistant (PDA) to access client information.
This is an incorrect action to ensure confidentiality and security of EHRs.
Using a PDA to access client information may expose the data to unauthorized access, loss, theft, or damage.
PDAs are typically not encrypted or password-protected, and may not have adequate security features or software updates to prevent cyberattacks or malware infections.PDAs may also not be compatible with the EHR system or follow the data standards and interoperability requirements.
D. Change the password at regular intervals.
This is another correct action to ensure confidentiality and security of EHRs.
Changing the password at regular intervals reduces the risk of password cracking, guessing, or phishing by unauthorized users or hackers.It also helps to maintain the accountability and authentication of authorized users who access the EHR system.
E. Report any breaches or attempted breaches to the appropriate authority.
This is also a correct action to ensure confidentiality and security of EHRs.
Reporting any breaches or attempted breaches to the appropriate authority helps to identify and mitigate the impact of any data loss, corruption, or disclosure.It also helps to comply with the legal and regulatory obligations to notify the affected clients and stakeholders, and to prevent further breaches or incidents.
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