Between assessing and diagnosing patients, and contributing to healthcare planning, implementation, and evaluation, the role of a nurse is certainly broad. To effectively get their duties done, nurses require a specific set of skills. From clear communication and strong problem-solving skills to empathy, care, and respect for patients and peers, these skills are likely second nature to students enrolled in an online DNP program.
While the list goes on and on, there’s one skill that’s oftentimes overlooked—attention to detail. Let’s unpack why attention to detail is such an important skill to have as a nurse.
Important documentation
The importance of attention to detail in nursing cannot be understated. Documentation plays a huge role in nursing and is one of the secure means of communication between nurses and other health care professionals or practitioners. When documenting information, nurses need to pay close attention to ensure clarity of language, consistency, correct spelling and grammar, accurate data, and legal compliance. The stakes in healthcare are high, so it’s imperative all documentation is right from the start.
Research published in 2023 showed that documentation is essential for the continuity of patient care, legal defense, and reimbursement purposes. During the documentation process, it is particularly important to pay attention to detail as it helps prevent unnecessary errors, enhances professional credibility, and complies with legal statutes.
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Patient safety
The core of nursing practice is to ensure patients are safe from the moment they step into the facility and are assessed and diagnosed through to when they’re treated and discharged. With this in mind, meticulous attention is warranted for patient details like vital illness signs, medication administration, patient history, and changes in condition.
Among the many reasons why attention to detail is vital in patient safety is that it reduces medical errors, allows for early detection of complications, promotes precise and detailed documentation of patient assessments, interventions, and responses, and most importantly mitigates risks.
Legal implications
When attention to detail is neglected, it puts not only the nurses but also the health institution at risk of license suspension or revocation and legal trouble. Other disciplinary actions involve fines, public reprimands, and practice restrictions.
In 2021, there were about 18,000 actions against nursing licenses in the United States. Legal implications could be as a result of wrong drug dosage, impromptu death, or sudden heightening of illness. With such high stakes, it’s vital that nurses remain vigilant and alert when completing their work.
Nurses can adopt keen attention to detail practices from the Montgomery ruling. These include;
- Informing the patient of the advantages and disadvantages of a particular treatment, including any risks associated with it.
- Informing the patient of any other options or alternatives to that treatment, and adding their pros and cons.
- Ensuring that the information is presented understandably – avoiding medical jargon.
- Giving the patient a lot of time and space, to weigh up their options before arriving at a decision.
- Finally, respecting the patient’s decision, no matter how much he or she may disagree with it.
Patient trust
As the saying goes, trust is won not bought. Day in and day out, nurses are interacting with patients. Whether it’s administering care or simply having a conversation, paying attention to the details is something that patients will notice, and it goes a long way when it comes to building up trust and rapport.
From improving patient safety, helping with the early detection of issues long before they develop to the end-stage state, keeping detailed and precise patient records, and helping empower patients when it comes to medical decisions, trust plays a big role in nursing.
So, how can nurses build trust? Well, to start, it is always good practice to verify patient identity before administering any medications, even for vitamin supplements. After patient assessments have been concluded, endeavor to thoroughly go through them – that way signs of any abnormalities can be spotted. This makes room for early interventions to ensue.
The power of listening cannot be stressed enough. It’s an easy way to make patients feel validated, empowered, supported, respected, and connected. As a nurse, you should not just listen but rather practice active listening, where you not only hear what someone is saying but also attune to their thoughts and feelings.
