Hi everyone....I have an exam question that is still bugging me
the question is....
A nurse commited an error in writing a document or a nursing documentation(i forgot what she was writing sorry).....what should the nurse do???
a.draw a line across the error and write "error" above it
b. draw a line across the error and write "error your initials" above it
thank you very much..i know its just a simple question but it still bugs me because i remember my teacher talking about writing "error" above your error but i don't remeber my teacher saying that i have to put initials T_T
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
The answer is "B". You always state the reason for lining out the documentation--always, and then initial it. Stating "error" is kind of vague. In actual practice I would write something like "error-wrong chart-JW" or error-wrong patient-JW".
My hospital's P&P's fall into the "no error" category. We make a single line and initial it.
The study guide I'm using for the RNC exam is also a "no error" believer. However, they do suggest that you write "mistaken entry." We don't want to write error, but no problem with mistaken. Go figure... Seems like somewhere out there a group of writers and consultants is having a lot of fun with us. "Wait till they read this one..." :)
The answer is "B". You always state the reason for lining out the documentation--always, and then initial it. Stating "error" is kind of vague. In actual practice I would write something like "error-wrong chart-JW" or error-wrong patient-JW".
That's interesting.
We were not taught to put the reason for the error. We draw a single line through the error, write "entry error", initial it, and proceed with the correct documentation.
we were taught to write "mistaken entry" and initial it.
But in clinical my instructors are having us write "error" and not consistent on whether or not to initial. I think I will be sure to initial from now on though.
The reason we were given for NOT writing the word error had to do with lawsuits... something about how it was more difficut to defend if you actually admit you made an error. It seems silly, since a line drawn through an entry obviously indicates an error, but that's what I was told.
I'm still a student so I will give you the little experience I have had so far... My clinical instructor - who I've had for two semesters now tells us to put one line through and initial... The current hospital we do our clinicals at put a line through and the word error with no initial. When I asked my teacher why not to write error - she said she doesn't think it's necessary because putting a line through it indicates that an error was made. Soooo in my opinion theres no "right" answer and I know if I got this question on an exam I would be stumped!!
I learned to strike it out with one line, write "error", and initial it back when I was in school. Documentation books also recommended this method.
Our hospital policy has recently changed and we now simply cross it off and initial. We were told that the reason is that writing the word "error" creates a big red flag to the lawyers.
So the real answer to the question is: Whatever your facility policy is.
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Daytonite, BSN, RN
1 Article; 14,604 Posts
The answer is "B". You always state the reason for lining out the documentation--always, and then initial it. Stating "error" is kind of vague. In actual practice I would write something like "error-wrong chart-JW" or error-wrong patient-JW".