Political Imperative: Nurses' Work Visible by Documentation

Chapter 15: A Political Imperative: Nurses' Work Visible by Documentation

Overview:

• Discusses three main reasons why nurses and other health professionals document their work

Description:

What nurses document in their work conveys to others what nurses do. It is only by documenting what was done and how this was received that the quality of nursing care will improve and what nurses do will be recognised as worthwhile. This chapter encourages nurses to document their work so that they are accepted as useful health professionals.

Topics:

• Then And Now
• The Purpose Of Nurses’ Documentation
  • What Do Nurses Do, And Document?
  • What Nurses Document Within A System
• Hard Times, Hard Decisions And Staffing Levels
• In Summary
• References

Speaker / Author:

Shirley Schulz-Robinson
Shirley worked for 20 years as a nurse clinician and manager in such diverse practice settings as psychiatric, developmental disability, medical-surgical and community and women’s health. She has worked in nurse education for 12 years, including terms as clinical director and assistant dean in the Faculty of Nursing, Newcastle University. In 1994 Shirley spent time in Canada and Great Britain examining collaboration between community nurses and general practitioners. Her research interests have included community health nursing, health policy and health promotion strategies while her current research shows that much of what nurses do is hidden and attributed to the efforts of other professions.

Shirley is chairperson of the RCNA Hunter Chapter and President of the NSW Community Health Association. She recently served for two years on the Public Health Research and Development Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council. Shirley believes that appropriate policy development underpins improved nursing care.

Professional Reviews: