Can another nurse chart on behalf of you?

[Truegem]

Let's say you forgot to chart something. Can't you call the charge nurse and have her write "dressing changed at 0300." per N. Jones, RN and then she signs her name too? (My example isn't the greatest, but you know what I mean.)

I have heard that this is acceptable, but my peers are saying no.

What if you forgot to chart something very important and you can't get back to the hospital because you are going on vacation?

It seems to me this should be ok.

In fact, I'm sure I read somewhere that this is acceptable, but I don't recall where I read it.

Thanks, Patti

[BunnyRN]

Why can't you say 'Phone call received from RN Jones. She stated that pts dressing was changed today at 0300?'

But what if tomorrow RN Jones totally denies ever making that phone call. Do you how many nurses deny knowing a pt. condition, during end of shift report. The next day when getting report, they'll say, "you didn't tell me". I have this RN on my floor, who is near retirement, where we "nurses" have to repeat ourselves, to make sure that she totally understands us. After giving her report, I also write it up in the chart, that report given to RN....

In addition, to cover myself, I call the doctor, tell the Charge RN, and write it up in our daily log book, for follow ups!!!

[nursel56]

Wow, BunnyRN. I think the nurse you are talking about would be an unusual case, because most nurses, I think would remember making a phone call, and have no reason to deny it, since it was to make sure her fellow nurses are up to date with the accuracy of nursing care provided to the patient.

I don't know how "near retirement" that nurse is, but if she is not providing safe care it can't be ignored or covered up by the other RNs. How can you guys do your jobs if you have to be calling doctors, doing write-ups, telling charge nurses to cover yourselves because she regularly neglects to do things? Yikes!