title: "Ladies & gentlemen of the jury, I present... the nursing documentation".
abstract: You wake up in a cold sweat after dreaming that you're the defendant in a medical malpractice case. The plaintiff's lawyer was about to point out the flaws and gaps in your documentation. Thankful it was only a dream, you vow to make sure your charting is up to snuff. No matter how skilled a nurse you are, poor nursing documentation will undermine your credibility if you're ever involved in a lawsuit. Read this article for practical guidelines that will not only improve patient care, but also help shield you from legal fallout if something goes wrong despite your best efforts.
authors.affiliation: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Austin