Care Plans - What does the Experienced Nurse Think of Them?

RNBSNGRADUATE · Mar 6, 2009

According to definition provided -- I fall into the "new" nurse category. I, too, agree that care plans are a complete waste of my time & simply for good looks. I believe over 90% of what is charted isn't actually done. This is something that takes away valuable time (which is NEVER enough) for patient care. One may think -- how long does it really take to open & close care plans....well, the minutes add up in a 12-hr shift that are spent on certain things that could be done away with in order to free up some time for patient care. I work on a general medicine floor that is often referred to as the busiest in the hospital.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

M/S is hard. I'm in that field right now. I dont think it is my niche.

I know what you mean, about the charting not matching the care. I've taken over for nurses who chart perfectly, but the wrong fluids are hanging and the dressing on the pt. still has the sig. from me doing it two days ago (but sure enough, the dressing change was charted as done).

I think care plans contribute to the separation between good bedside nurses and nurses good in administration's eyes. We've all seen the nurse who is at the nurse's station all day, charting, making the paperwork look so nice.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

For students, I think care plans are very helpful in promoting critical thinking, and in kearning what specific nursing interventions you would use in specific pt situations.

In the real world of nursing, though, I find them totally useless.

nord11 · Mar 6, 2009

What do I think about care plans - can't type it without using profanity. So I will be nice and hope my point got across.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

For students, I think care plans are very helpful in promoting critical thinking, and in kearning what specific nursing interventions you would use in specific pt situations.
In the real world of nursing, though, I find them totally useless.

I've heard that care plans are merely for schools, were never meant to enter the real medical world. One teacher, while explaining to a bunch of complaining students about the importance of care plans said "Care plans are used to help initiate the formation of critical thinking. They, in and of themselves, are not critical thinking."

I understood what she meant. Then, I saw how they are still being implemented in the real world and I was like......... :confused: .

Does anyone agree that nursing care plans should be limited to the academic setting? I do believe that is what they were meant for. They somehow infected the work force. So, what we have is a tool meant to help students along being used as the letter of the law in real practice. Not good.

Tait, MSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

For students, I think care plans are very helpful in promoting critical thinking, and in kearning what specific nursing interventions you would use in specific pt situations.
In the real world of nursing, though, I find them totally useless.

Exactly what I was going to put. I hated them in school, but looking back now I realize they REALLY helped me look at my patients, and helped me develop my critical thinking skills. Now I think they are just...nothing.

Tait

HappyBunnyNurse · Mar 6, 2009

A care plan is something a good nurse does in his/her head. Actually writing it down is a waste for the experienced nurse.

HappyBunnyNurse · Mar 6, 2009

I fall in the new group. I feel a care plan is something a good nurse does in his/her head. Actually writing it down is a waste for the experienced nurse.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

THey are of no use to me either. I fill them out and update them so that people who actually don't take care of the patient (ie. managment, CEO, etc) can look at it and see what we're doing for the patient.

Mr Ian · Mar 6, 2009

Care plans are a tool - a support mechanism but, as every tool, it's good for certain jobs but not all.

A care plan is a communication device that is meant to establish consistency - but when there's only one nurse doing one job in say a 4 hour admission - is it necessary?

For a 24 hour admission? Well you've got 3 shifts to exchange information. It can be useful for guiding interventions for unique presentation or conveying special instructions.

For longer - I think they are necessary; because over time the need to be more organised becomes more critical. They are still fairly limited in their use but they can be a useful communication point to save fleecing through the clinical file for relevant information.

However, they also serve another function - a contract between the nursing team and the patient. And as for any contract, both parties should have a copy. The patient then knows what to expect, when and from whom. They also know when this has varied and can ask questions.

It also forms part of the clinical contract of care - a testimony to what the nurse ought be doing.

Staff who are charting things that have not been done are being incompetent.

Your care plan is your reference point so they can be challenged without saying "I wasn't told".

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

Ah, now there is one arguement for them new to me. Being used as a form of communication. Makes sense.

Actually, I've seen things written in the care plan (plan to call for a certain consult and other nursing interventions) that are not carried out that I do. Its usually written by the people I mentioned before, who only chart things. I see their ideas and perform them. Not a common thing, but its happened. LOL, I learn, they dont burn. Its win win.