nursing staff need direction, or a guide, when delivering care to the patient. Simply put, anything that is done to the patient is written on the care plan. This tells the nurse what needs to be done, when and often how.

My new computer is not working. I wondered why. Why, because I did not know how to use it, or use the programs.

A care plan is only as good as those who know about it...

I can remember having endless interviewing sessions with nursing assistants who had no idea and were unable to identify what was written on the plan of care. Therefore, how did they give appropriate care to the resident (individual in a nursing home is called a Resident)

Recently, at a lecture, I focused on staff knowing (every) all the details. There is no way appropriate delivery of care can be maintained if there is not an understanding of patient care interventions. All to often, a CNA (certified nursing assistant) will enter a room to assist a resident and not be aware of what individualized care has been planned for this resident. One example is often seen when the incorrect number of staff assist a resident in transferring (one person/two person, etc.) from one place to another. Transferring is from the bed to a chair, from the toilet to a chair or any movement from one place to another.

We are faced with the reality that not every staff who enters a resident’s room is familiar with their individualized plan of care. Therefore, imperative that the facility have, in place, a mechanism (developed and implemented) to ensure those providing care, can, in fact, deliver appropriate care.

When one thinks about all the hours that go into developing an individualized plan of care then why not ensure that all staff know about it. The plans of care take time and all those who are providing care to the resident are involved in this process. Determining specific and individual needs for each resident takes time.

Individuals who provide direct patient contact without knowing the patient’s medical conditions/status and treatment orders are setting the patient up for a compromised event to happen. In other words, mistakes that can and often do lead to death. All to often, as unfortunate as it may sound, it does happen. I have observed staff delivering care who know nothing about the plan, i.e. .what should or should not be done to the patient/resident. This happens in nursing homes, as well as hospitals.

Therefore, the next time your nurse walks into your room, or the room of your loved one, ask that person, "What does the care plan (or plan of care) say?" If a nursing staff enters a patient room to provide care, there needs to be an understanding (a plan) of what is to be done to the patient. If, by chance, the nursing staff, or healthcare professional says, "I don’t know, I have not seen it." then, by all means, ask that person, "Then how do you know what care to give." Pure and simple. Even giving a glass of water to a patient can lead to problems, especially if that patient is not to have any liquids.

Ask and Ask away..........................Don’t be shy...................Ask............