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Aged-care nurses' knowledge of nursing documentation: an Australian perspective
Robyn Daskein1, Wendy Moyle, Debra Creedy
1Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
Journal of Clinical Nursing
|April 21, 2009
Summary
Registered nurses in aged-care facilities demonstrate high knowledge of nursing documentation, particularly policies and discharge instructions. Further education is recommended to enhance understanding of assessments and shift reports.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Healthcare Administration
- Gerontology
Background:
- Nursing documentation is crucial for communication, quality assurance, research, accountability, and funding in Australian aged care.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the interplay between registered nurses' (RNs) knowledge, documentation processes, and outcomes in residential aged care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the knowledge levels of registered nurses (RNs) regarding nursing documentation within aged-care nursing home facilities in Queensland, Australia.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, retrospective study design was employed.
- A large sample of 360 RNs from 162 Queensland aged-care facilities participated.
- Participants completed a postage-return questionnaire to identify factors influencing their documentation knowledge.
Main Results:
- RNs reported substantial knowledge of nursing documentation, with highest confidence in policies and discharge instructions.
- Knowledge regarding nursing assessments was ranked fifth, and understanding of reading shift reports was the lowest.
- The study utilized a modified Edelstein's questionnaire, demonstrating excellent reliability for measuring RNs' documentation knowledge.
Conclusions:
- RNs in aged-care settings possess high levels of knowledge concerning nursing documentation.
- Accurate documentation directly impacts resident care outcomes and government funding.
- Recommendations include implementing comprehensive documentation education programs tailored to organizational needs and RN skill levels.
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