Nightly chart checks - last 24 hours only or go through ALL orders?

[Iggy123]

RN's (me included) are confused about this...most nurses just do 24 hr chart checks only for new orders within the last 24 hr time period. Others report that we have to check ALL orders from the beginning of pt's admission and ensure everything is correctly transcribed so that no errors are made. This includes meds, tests, etc basically every doctor's orders. How does it work at your hospital? Just curious to hear what other RN's do...

I thought the point of 24 hr chart checks is that staff are doing them every night so theres no point of having to go through allllll the way back. And it takes a super long time if this is required

[mlehman123]

We have just switched from 24 hour chart checks to 12 hour chart checks and have caught multiple medication transcription errors prior to the error reaching teh patient. The check goes 12 hours back on the order and verification is made that the MAR is correct, lab is ordered correctly and communication sheets are updated. It has been effective!!