Charting when there are nursing students

Exactly. That's what I do but none of the other nurses I work with do this. I would think there are big legal issues with this.

Bet er check the NPA in your state. In my personal opinion, and it is just that, the only charting that really counts is that of the licensed person. I would not want my patient's chart to have dcoumentation gaps. Students do not take the place of the RN.

Legally, the hospital/facility is ALWAYS responsible for the patient's care. That patient has engaged the hospital to provide services, not the nursing school. The organization MUST have processes in place to ensure that everyone providing services is competent and legally permitted to do so. Unless that clinical instructor is actually an employee of the organization, the Staff Nurse (assigned to the patient) is still 'in charge' and responsible for the care of all his/her assigned patients.

Side note: If instructors are performing or supervising care, the organization needs to have some type of competency validation process. As a staff nurse, you should have access to this information so that you can fulfill the professional responsibilities associated with delegation & assigning care.

The instructor is not responsible for the patient. The instructor is responsible for the STUDENT. RNs should document anything and everything relevant to their patient. When I was a student, the hospital where we did clinicals had electronic charting. Each student had their own login. We charted our I/Os, assessments, vitals, etc. as well as any procedure/treatment we may have done. We only did treatments if the nurse agreed to LET us do it. That RN was never "let off the hook" because they had a student nurse.... because they were just that... a student. And... any charting that a student did had to be signed off by our instructor.

Being a RN now, I would never assume that someone else has documented anything on one of my patients and not at least reference it in my documentation. My preceptor told me "When I do my charting, I write it as if I am saying it right to the judge". And that was very wise advice.

At my hospital, all student charting must be cosigned by a licensed nurse. That nurse can be the instructor of the students. However, for various reasons, I would still chart something along the lines of "Head to toe physical assessment completed by this RN. Reviewed charting of Sally Student, SN and agree with charted findings."

2 different situations:

1. I am the nurse working the floor. There is a group of students on the floor. They are being supervised by their instructor. One of them is assigned to one of my patients. I document my full assessment and follow-up assessments, regardless of what the student documents. They can document things like VS and I&O and there's no need to double document those things but a student documented assessment would not cover me in the event that something happened. Especially when the student and I are not assessing the patient together and I am not responsible for him/her. If the day is uneventful, I won't necessarily write another note in addition to the progress note the student writes. If something happens, you bet I'm writing my own note.

2. I am precepting a senior year nursing student doing her final clinical. We do everything together. I allow her to document the assessment and then I review it, make any changes necessary and co-sign it in the appropriate location. Same with her narrative note. Students were not allowed to fully sign notes in our computer system, so I would write something at the bottom to note that I agree with her note and sign my name/credentials.

One thing CYA...at the end of the day that's your patient your license. The student nurse is learning and under your supervision one way or the other. Always check their documentation before they write it in patient chart by doing a rough draft then you come along with your documentation concurring and adding your info. Cover your ***

I just graduated in december. When we were on the floor and charted on our assigned patients, the nurse would still chart every 2 hours and chart "agree with student nurse" or they would not chart and rely on students to cover it. We still had to report to the nurse any changes. As a working nurse now, it is my responsibility to chart on my patients regardless of what students chart. Like stated above, it is our license and they don't come easy. I'm not sure if students would be called in to court. If you didn't chart it-you didn't do it!!

I just graduated in december. When we were on the floor and charted on our assigned patients, the nurse would still chart every 2 hours and chart "agree with student nurse" or they would not chart and rely on students to cover it. We still had to report to the nurse any changes. As a working nurse now, it is my responsibility to chart on my patients regardless of what students chart. Like stated above, it is our license and they don't come easy. I'm not sure if students would be called in to court. If you didn't chart it-you didn't do it!!

Students wouldnt necessary be called to court. They have no license and their malpractice is thru the school but they hv so much leeway bcuz they are learning under a licensed RN who should be supervising. At the end of day it comes down on the RN so cya at all times. Computer or paper charting still the same