Which option is not a primary reason that documentation is important?
a. Documentation enables the team to pro-vide care to meet a resident's individual needs.
b. Documentation helps defend the nurse in the event of a possible lawsuit.
c. Documentation enables a patient to re-ceive consistent care from one shift to the next.
d. Documentation is the basis for reim-bursement to the facility.
B
Although providing a defense in the event of a possible lawsuit should not be the primary motive for the nurse to keep accurate and thorough documentation, doing so is the best defense in the event of legal action against anyone involved in a patient's care. Enabling the team to provide care that meets individual needs is a primary reason; documentation is necessary to ensure that the team has accurate and complete information about the resident's specific conditions. Enabl-ing the patient to receive consistent care is a primary reason; documentation enables nurses on later shifts to be aware of conditions that have developed and the actions that have been taken on previous shifts. Providing the basis for reimbursement is a primary reason; the use of standard documentation in applying for reimbursement is a matter of law.
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