LAWS

It's a facility policy. There's no law saying a non-licensed caregiver can't look up pt information for patients they're taking care of. Many places I've worked allowed the CNAs to access the pt chart. Both acute care and LTC.

Apparently, it's against your facility's policy to let the CNAs access the pt charts. So you did the right thing. But there's difference between facility policy and the Law. You would not get in legal trouble for allowing a CNA to read the chart of a pt under their care. But you could get fired if it's against your employer's policy.

I would review the facility's policy. If the CNA wants history on the patient, I think it's prudent to collaborate with providing appropriate information to the CNA, ESPECIALLY since they are our "eyes and ears" of the healthcare team.

When I was a CNA, I always appreciated when nurses were willing to give me info that helped me understand my patient more, as well as provide them info to help them in their practice. I carried his practice when I became a licensed nurse. I worked somewhere where the caregivers did not document at all, yet we collaborated on patient history and routine to provide better care.

I think it's fine if you tell them "okay here is the history" and give an oral report. But I would never log into the EMAR and say "okay go wild!!!"

Our cna's are not permitted to access the EMR and don't chart anything electronically either but they are encouged to access the careplans (never seen one do it yet)

I find that cna's are able to provide better care when they understand the patient history. My facility allows all nursing staff full access to the charts, but have rarely seen cna's use the chart to gather info. In discussion I have taught them about certain residents and their history and "this is why it is so important to approach in this manner....or watch for these symptoms....or provide this particular care..." Understanding the bigger picture improves resident care plain and simple, tasks become vital, not just another thing on the todo list that may not hold any meaning thereby not be followed through appropriately.