Who Needs Written Care Plans Anyway?

The nursing care plan past present and uncertain future a review of the Literature

“…Perry (1963) says that, although all members of the nursing team are responsible for recording pertinent information on the care plan, it is the professional nurse's responsibility for implementing care plans, for making periodic reviews of the plans to see they are up-to-date, to determine if they are being utilized, and to assist new employees to use them. Harris (1970), on the other hand, says that anyone who can be entrusted with admitting a patient can begin the rudiments of a plan of care. Mansfield (1967) found that aides in a psychiatric hospital could write and use care plans effectively with supervision.…”

“…Indeed, so poorly is the student helped to make the transition from educational to service care plan, that when she graduates she often adopts the attitude that "care plans exist for patients assigned to students." (Kramer, 1972;Harris 1970) Still another important objection to written care plans has grown out of the impetus for nursing research. Since the care plan is written in pencil, changed frequently, and usually thrown away when the patient is discharged, there is no permanent record available for study and evaluation of the nursing process.…”