Question

The nurse is aware that the nursing audit is a valuable process used to:

a. determine whether a particular patient received the care indicated int he nursing care plan
b. evaluate whether nursing care for a group of patients meets the standards of care in that facility
c. determine the cost of nursing care in the hospital in order to set rates for daily care
d. identify careless or negligent nursing care to protect the facility from lawsuits

Answer 1

The nursing audit aims to evaluate nursing care against established standards, involving record reviews and confirming various procedural details to ensure quality and safety in patient care.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nursing audit is a valuable process used primarily to evaluate whether nursing care for a group of patients meets the standards of care in a given facility. It involves a thorough review of patient records to assess the quality of care provided and to identify any areas needing improvement. During a nursing audit, the nurse reviews various items such as the accuracy of the procedure recorded, completeness of needle, sponge, and instrument counts, proper labeling of specimens, and issues with medical equipment.

Additionally, the nursing audit may include confirming team introductions, patient identity, surgical site, and procedure, as well as reviewing critical events and concerns such as operative details by the surgeon, patient-specific concerns by anesthesia staff, and sterility and equipment availability by nursing staff.

While determining costs and identifying negligent care might also be aspects considered during different evaluations, they are not the primary focus of a nursing audit.