Does excessive paperwork interfere with patient care

Posted in: Hospital nursing | Main nursing areas

16-Jun-2010 11:08 am

Posts: 1

I have been in nursing and midwifery profession for at least 30years and am becoming overwhelmed with what seems like never ending paperwork.
Treatments, investigations and subsequent planning appropriate care have produces lots of paperwork.I thought within 'the age of the computers' this was to reduce paperwork!!
Is it just me who is frustrated at the fact I often read about 20 sheets before provide appropriate care of my patient? The patient sitting there waiting and then observes me writing what seems like a book during their time with me.
I fully endorse the need for record keeping and maintaining notes but within my busy working environment. I feel the paperwork is interfering with patient care.
any thoughts and suggestions

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Anonymous

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2-Aug-2010 10:11 pm

Completely agree! I have qualified recently and am becoming frustrated at the increasing amount of paperwork that is required before I can even get to see my patient...

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nursemorph

Posts: 2

28-Oct-2010 3:46 pm

Personally I don't have so much an issue with how much paperwork there is as when do I have the time to complete it. I am forever staying on after shifts to do my paperwork as there was no time during the shift. This impacts on patient care as, if I am working the next day, I am invariably tired and not 100% focused on what I am doing

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Anonymous

10-May-2011 4:36 pm

Absolutely ... I agree of course that good documentation is vital, but, it's not so much the documentation that gets in the way but the endless reams of audits upon audits.

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Jenny McIntyre

Posts: 2

13-Oct-2011 9:41 am

Having heard today on the news about concerns for care of the elderly, I can only express my sadness at the state of nursing today.
Despite our computer age, we are drowning beneath reams and reams of documentation, much of which is meanless! -what is the point of endless repetition of *`s privacy and dignity being maintained?! It means nothing!
Bring back the KARDEX-let nurses NURSE-and with common sense!!!! Claire Rayner must be pacing the corridors of No. 10, bless her!!!!!!!

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Maryam Omitogun

Location: London
Posts: 5

20-Oct-2011 10:20 am

An adage says too much of anything is bad. On the other part, I did not agree that there are excessive paper work if ones work is properly planned. Documentation of a days work should not be postponed to another day except in any situation that the case work cannot be entered.
Accumulation of work leads to excessive paper work.

Nurses, health visitors and Specialist practitioners should learnt to manage their time wisely and carry out their work as a trained qualified mature professionals.

Maryam Omitogun.

Greater London

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Anonymous

23-Oct-2011 5:14 pm

Couldn't agree more! I was working a shift the other day, I was in charge and we were 2 trained down and 1 HCA down. It was busy and we all had to prioritise care accordingly. I was then told off by my manager the next day for not completing a piece of audit information. I argued about staff shortages and priority and do you know the answer I got...? Quote - " you need to time manage better.."!!

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Jenny McIntyre

Posts: 2

6-Jan-2012 6:34 am

Too right-have just posted on here-David Cameron agrees!!! BRING BACK THE KARDEX!!!

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