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Discussion

What Color Ink

Today I was counciled for using blue ink to chart with...normally I do use black but I used what was on hand and what was working at the time. I was told that you have to use black for legal documents since other colors will not copy well.

Now I do not remember ever hearing that it was a legal requirement to use black...only the custom. Black is for charting, red is for chart checks etc.

I decided to research the issue more and I have not found anywhere that there is actually legislation that requires black, only some institutions require it by policy. In fact I have read that the growing legal trend is to require non black ink for signing and filling out legal documents to differentiate between originals and copies. Black is seen as more formal where colors are considered more secure.

So what colors do you use and for which purpose? Is is only customary, policy, or is there actually a legal requirement to use certain colors? Does it REALLY matter what color a Nurse uses???

Featured Replies

It matters because that is the policy where you were charting. The same as uniform requirements, or any other policy.

  • Author

Hell I will write in purple and wear a manatee costume if that is what is required but I am pretty sure there is no written rule where I work, is there a policy where you work? Is that how it has always been, black for charting, red for signing orders and chart checks etc?

I have spoken to a few Nurses and they have said that is always what they have done out of custom...mostly because everyone else did...but did not know if it was a mandated thing.

Just trying to figure out if it is a quirk of Nursing or an actual rule of Nursing.

A manatee costume? :p

I think it is a rule of nursing.

In more recent years, when filing documents with the courts, black ink is required due to the ability to see the writing when the images are copies or placed on micro.

  • Experts

When I started at a long term care facility, the policy was for each shift to use a color unique to that shift: red for night, green for PM, and black for days. Told that was common (back then). While in the middle of a horrendous inspection by the state, we were given the sudden mandate to change to everyone chart in black. Reason: the State inspectors were finding plenty of skeletons to pursue by reading revealing charting (accurate and thorough as it may have been) that stood out because of the color. I have always remembered that situation, although it was not very humorous at the time. Worked at another employer where some nurses insisted on charting with blue pen to annoy management because the policy book said "black or blue" ink and nobody had bothered to change it. I would think it was rather stupid to have to redo charting because I was trying to make somebody else look foolish. Just do what they tell ya to do, that's the policy.

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