Electronic Documentation and Nurse-Patient Interaction

This author explored the culture of nurse-patient interactions associated with electronic bedside documentation. Data were collected through passive participant observation, audiotaping of nurse-patient interactions, and interviews with nurses. Nurses acknowledged that they need to share their attention between the patient and the computer. They stated that prioritizing patients' needs while completing the required electronic documentation was demanding. Stationary computers challenged the logistics of the exchange. Understanding the adaptation of caregiving necessitated by bedside electronic documentation will have a positive impact on developing systems that interface seamlessly with nurses' workflow and encourage patients' active participation in their care.