Question

After delivering your patient to the hospital, you sit down to complete the PCR. When documenting the

patient's last blood pressure reading, you inadvertently write 120/60 instead of 130/70. To correct this
mistake, you should:
A. draw a single horizontal line through the error, initial it, and write the correct data next to it.
B. attempt to erase the error, initial it, and then write the correct data on a separate addendum.
C. cover the error with correction fluid and simply write the patient's actual blood pressure over it.
D. leave the error on your PCR but inform the staff of the patient's actual blood pressure.

Answer 1

To correct a mistake on a PCR, you should draw a single horizontal line through the error, initial it, and write the correct data next to it, maintaining an accurate audit trail.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you inadvertently write the incorrect blood pressure reading on a Patient Care Report (PCR) and need to correct this mistake, the appropriate action is to draw a single horizontal line through the error, initial it, and write the correct data next to it. This is a standard practice in medical documentation to ensure that the record is both accurate and has an audit trail of any changes made to it. Using correction fluid or attempting to erase the error is not advised as it could cast doubt on the integrity of the patient's medical record.