Proper Charting Can Lead to a Reduced Number of Medical Errors

Hospitals need to be hypervigilant about the charting practices of their staff. Everything that is done for a patient must be recorded as soon as it can be done.  At times, nurses may find it very difficult to find the time to record in minute details of what sort of care they have provided to their patients. Flow sheets are a perfect way for nurses to keep track of everything until they have time to sit down, and properly chart at the end of their shift.

The care provided isn’t the only thing that needs to be recorded. The medication, how it is administered, dosage and the time it was given to the patient, also are critical in preventing errors. Mainly over-medicating. Again, flow sheets that nurses carry around with them throughout their shift is a key component in helping these errors.