Responsible for MARs/TARs

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My LTCF has a policy that the on-coming nurse must review the previous nurse's documentation in the MARs/TARs (we do not document electronically) for missing/blank initials. The previous shift cannot leave/clock out until the on-coming nurse has verified documentation is completed. This can take, with report and narc counts, an hour.

How common is this policy?

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

It is a first for me,

but I might like it.....

those se unsigned Mars and tars, can be tagged as unsafe care etc

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I can see that. I guess what I'm confused about is the reasoning it's the on-coming shift's responsibility to check the previous shift's documentation for errors before they can clock out.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
I can see that. I guess what I'm confused about is the reasoning it's the on-coming shift's responsibility to check the previous shift's documentation for errors before they can clock out.
It's a new, fresh set of eyes and freq and a pretty much fail safe way to catch someone before they leave(esp for the perdiem, prn, part-time, ready-to-vaca- staff).

The tactic usually ends shortly.

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

Where I work, once a week the night nurse is suppose to do this. Not that it always gets done, but that is the policy.

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Specializes in TBI and SCI.

I like the NOC nurse doing that... but yes this happens often where my facility forgets to sign..... I start doing my 9am meds and I'm ike "hmm was this given" I text my NOC nurse who just left hoping he is still awake and he just says he forgot.. luckily he comes in that night again so he just signs then. I don't think it should be another nurses responsibility however.... That would take waaay too long... I hope that time is accounted for in your shift otherwise you could fall behind :-/

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Please don't just dump stuff on the 11-7 shift. That tactic sounds just like every other person in the world who thinks that the NOC shift does nothing for pts because "pts are all sleeping"!

Everybody needs to share the wealth since I'm sure everyone has been guilty one time or another re missed initials.

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