So, I spend a lot of time looking at documentation. I understand how busy staff are, and I’m talking about all notes — from social services, nursing through practitioners. But I have to ask: Does anyone read what they write before they sign off and lock their documentation anymore?
I’m talking about made-up acronyms and abbreviations, to sentences that make zero sense, to why in the world would you document that and someone pick me up off of the floor because I just fainted! (That last one deserves one of those “what were you thinking” stickers slapped on the writer’s forehead!)
I sometimes feel like I am stuck in senseless TV-show land. You know, like all the shows about vampires. Some dude is always saying, “To kill a vampire, you have to stick a stake through its heart.” Dude, I’m pretty sure you stick a stake through anyone’s heart and they’re toast!
And I know I’ve told you all how much I love the AMC show “The Walking Dead.” But you’ve got these people that have survived the zombie apocalypse out in the wild and they’re giving advice to people who have been isolated, but they’re walking around in tank tops and shorts! Hello?! Why aren’t they advising them to wear full body leather and armor? Zombies can’t eat that, y’know.
Then there’s the idiotic late-night commercials. I saw this advertisement for “wonder” ear. Had this guy out hunting and said, “wonder” ear will make you a better hunter. Really? I kind of think you need some kind of a weapon. Just saying. Hearing a deer better won’t drop it.
So, please, take an extra 30 seconds and read what you wrote. If it doesn’t make perfect sense, go back and edit it. Otherwise someday, when you least expect it, you’ll wind up with a sticker on your forehead! (Or eaten by a zombie!)
Just keeping it real,
Nurse Jackie
The Real Nurse Jackie is written by Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC, Senior Director of Clinical Innovation and Education for Mission Health Communities, LLC and an APEX Award of Excellence winner for Blog Writing. Vance is a real-life long-term care nurse. A nationally respected nurse educator and past national LTC Nurse Administrator of the Year, she also is an accomplished stand-up comedienne. The opinions supplied here are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of her employer or her professional affiliates.
