The worst thing about care plans

Posts: 1 · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1 Location: UK

Hi

I'm Trev - a psychiatric nurse from the UK and I have a question.

My colleague Lyn and I wanted to discover why care plans are so boring and so underused in many settings.

We're developing a new approach - a whole new system in fact - and we've been told already that it could form part of nurse managers' training here in the UK - so we know we're onto something. Everyone we've given it to try finds it simple to use, and easy to follow.

What we'd really appreciate knowing is what's the worst thing you find about care planning? For example, is it writing them, (even if it's on computer), understanding them, not understanding them ... I mean if you find them a pain in the gluteus maximus in any way ...!

What would be really helpful in a new system?

Any thoughts, (keep 'em clean - we're sensitive, we Brits, you know!), gratefully taken into account.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers
Trev.

Posts: 4 · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 4 Location: wales

Hi Trev

I'm a student nurse at the end of my second year, I was very interested in your post, what I have noticed is that care plans are decided by the nurse/doctor and not with the input of the patient, this leads I feel to it becoming a paper pushing exercise. We are being trained that we need to treat patients holistically and give them back the independence they loose when they enter hospital, which is not done in practice. Plus not everywhere uses care plans so we can go from one clinical area to another and it's a whole new type of paperwork and patients' don't get to see them.
Don't get me wrong, we do need this documentation as it is so so important to record everything that happens, but if it could be the same for all clinical areas and easy to use that would be a great help!!!!
Good luck with your project I hope it gets agreement for use from PCT's for you!!!

Posts: 1 · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 1 Location: lebanon

tremdon wrote:

Hi Trev,
Im a student nurse , i have finished my second year . Ur question really interseted from me , i want to know the answer of this question ALSO .
As a student nurse im obliged to do such documentation otherwise i will fail the exam , i know that such documentation is important but the problem wtih me iN such documentation dont have a specific protocol for them , in another word u have to imagine to write and everyone have it's own way . So i think the one that put this idea should also give as idea to write it . Another thing im so disappiontted because such documentation are like punishment , we write them just to complete some document and no one do wat is written we write them just cuz it is hospital policy . THIS IS MY OPOION THINK FOR THIS INTERSET TOP . Very Happy

Posts: 10 · Joined: 02 Feb 2008 Posts: 10 Location: indiana

Care plans are for the birds, i barely have enough time to impliment the doctor's orders!

Posts: 19 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Phoenix AZ USA

Care Plans.... LOL.... What a joke.
Those are for school and JCAHO paperwork. They're never used in real life. Or real jobs. Only for student papers, critical thinking, and medical billing paperwork!
Angela RN

Posts: 6 · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 6 Location: WI

I agree. Why are they required in the chart if they'er not used.

What are the ways your finding to use them in the UK? Is it helpful? What do you think?

Posts: 3 · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Michigan

Does anyone every really work off them? You open the chart, sign your name and move on to the next one. I feel that any good nurse is working off the care plan in their head more then anything, you know what the patient needs, you critically think, you take action and assess the outcome. Thats why we are there! Not to prove it one paper, the patient is the real proof, the care plan is an inconvenient waste of time! Mad

Posts: 1 · Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Falkland, BC, Canada

> the care plan is an inconvenient waste of time!

It is; but it shouldn't be.
The "care plan in your head" is a great one; but the care plan that OT and PT, the doc(s), the social worker, the patient's family and the patient contribute to should be a bit more comprehensive than the one in your head, no?

Posts: 4 · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 4 Location: stobhill hospital

I find that you repeat yourself alot in the care plans. If you make an entry in chronological account of care for all changes instead of repeating it in other forms such as relative communication it;s easier. people can read back a few entries for all changes instead of having to read the whole care plan whcih people don't have time for.