Communication and Documentation in Community Nursing
COMMUNICATION AND DOCUMENTATION IN COMMUNITY NURSING
STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE EFFECTIVE COLLABORATIVE WORKING AMONGST HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN CARING FOR CHILDREN AT END OF LIFE
Introduction:
Excellent communication skills and careful documentation are an important part of nursing practice, whether in the clinical or community setting (Perry & Potter, 2014). One of the fundamental aims for nurses in all areas is to safeguard the welfare of their patients and service users (RCN, 2007). This can be achieved by implementing and upholding good communication and documentation practice in every healthcare department (Miller & Cameron, 2011).
This briefing paper will provide an insight into the complexities of communication and documentation in community nursing when caring for children at end of life. It will highlight the areas in need of development and it will propose two options for the improvement of communication and documentation between different healthcare professionals in the community. This paper will also discuss different leadership and management theories and will present recommendations of how these theories can be applied to each proposal.
Proposed options:
Option A: Implementing weekly meetings with all healthcare professionals involved in the child’s care.
Option B: Developing a policy to implement parent-held records in the home to document the child’s care, treatment, potential problems and concerns.
Background:
On a recent practice placement opportunity with a children’s home care team, one of the main problems encountered was the insufficient communication and documentation both within the home care team and between the team and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of children at end of life. It soon became apparent that not only was the lack of good communication and documentation affecting the healthcare professionals involved, it also had an immense impact on the parents of the
STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE EFFECTIVE COLLABORATIVE WORKING AMONGST HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN CARING FOR CHILDREN AT END OF LIFE
Introduction:
Excellent communication skills and careful documentation are an important part of nursing practice, whether in the clinical or community setting (Perry & Potter, 2014). One of the fundamental aims for nurses in all areas is to safeguard the welfare of their patients and service users (RCN, 2007). This can be achieved by implementing and upholding good communication and documentation practice in every healthcare department (Miller & Cameron, 2011).
This briefing paper will provide an insight into the complexities of communication and documentation in community nursing when caring for children at end of life. It will highlight the areas in need of development and it will propose two options for the improvement of communication and documentation between different healthcare professionals in the community. This paper will also discuss different leadership and management theories and will present recommendations of how these theories can be applied to each proposal.
Proposed options:
Option A: Implementing weekly meetings with all healthcare professionals involved in the child’s care.
Option B: Developing a policy to implement parent-held records in the home to document the child’s care, treatment, potential problems and concerns.
Background:
On a recent practice placement opportunity with a children’s home care team, one of the main problems encountered was the insufficient communication and documentation both within the home care team and between the team and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of children at end of life. It soon became apparent that not only was the lack of good communication and documentation affecting the healthcare professionals involved, it also had an immense impact on the parents of the