Nursing Documentation 101
Most health care providers know that accurate documentation (also known as charting, recording and reporting) is an important component of their professional and legal responsibilities. Nursing organizations have standards of practice (or practice guidelines) and specific competencies that address quality documentation, not just "good charting".
There were two major reasons why Documentation was selected for development of an eLearning course. Firstly, the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) surveyed members and found a high demand for more training in documentation. Secondly, many audits across health disciplines found that most documentation fails to meet professional and legal standards (Paans, Nieweg and Van der Schanns, 2010). The purpose of this course is to provide Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) the knowledge and skills to perform their documentation responsibilities to accepted professional and legal standards.
Nursing Documentation 101 consists of seven modules. The learning activities include narrated video presentations, module quizzes, reflective scenarios/case studies and learning games/simulations. To access a learning activity, simply click on the Link. After you have completed an activity, return to this page to proceed to the next activity. We strongly recommend that the activities be done in the order shown. However, you are free to select your own learning path. A final examination is included.
Although this course was designed for LPNs, the information will be of benefit to all health care providers who wish to improve their documentation skills.
Module 1: Course Introduction and Overview
1.1 Video presentation – narrated with notes (7 slides)
1.2 Video player tutorial – a one-minute tour of how to navigate the player
1.3 Podcast – click to listen or right-click to download the audio file for use off-line (7:08 minutes - 7 MB)
1.4 Handout notes ( PDF | Digital ) – printable and digital versions of the slides and narration
Module 2: Importance of Accurate Documentation
2.1 Video presentation – narrated with notes (18 slides)
2.2 Podcast – click to listen, or right-click to download the audio file to listen off-line (19:40 minutes - 19 MB)
2.3 Handout notes ( PDF | Digital ) – printable and digital versions of the slides and narration for this module
2.4 Mod. 2 Quiz I – online, interactive quiz (20 questions selected randomly from a pool of 50 items)
2.5 Mod. 2 Quiz II – printable /PDF version of quiz with answer key (50 questions)
Module 3: Essential Elements of Accurate Documentation
3.1 Video presentations – narrated with notes
3.1.1 Video presentation – Part I (30 slides)
3.1.2 Video presentation – Part II (15 slides)
3.2 Podcasts – click to listen, or right-click to download the audio file to listen off-line
3.2.1 Podcast – Part I (18:21 minutes - 17 MB)
3.2.2 Podcast – Part II (16:39 minutes - 7 MB)
3.3 Handouts – printable and digital versions of the slides and narration for this module
3.3.1 Handout notes – Part I ( PDF | Digital )
3.3.2 Handout notes – Part II ( PDF | Digital )
3.4 Mod. 3 Quiz I – online, interactive quiz (20 questions selected randomly from a pool of 60 items)
3.5 Mod. 3 Quiz II – printable / PDF version of quiz with answer key (63 questions)
Module 4: Legal Issues in Documentation
4.1 Video presentation – narrated with notes (19 slides)
4.2 Podcast – click to listen, or right-click to download the audio file to listen off-line (18:25 minutes - 17 MB)
4.3 Handout notes ( PDF | Digital ) – printable and digital versions of the slides and narration for this module
4.4 Mod. 4 Quiz I – online, interactive quiz (20 questions selected randomly from a pool of 30 items)
4.5 Mod. 4 Quiz II – printable / PDF version of quiz with answer key (30 questions)
Module 5: Applying Documentation Knowledge to Practice
5.1 Video presentations – narrated with notes
5.1.1 Video presentation – Part I (22 slides)
5.1.2 Video presentation – Part II (21 slides)
5.2 Podcasts – click to listen, or right-click to download the audio file to listen off-line
5.2.1 Podcast – Part I (15:08 minutes - 14 MB)
5.2.2 Podcast – Part II (11:05 minutes - 10 MB)
5.3 Handouts – printable and digital versions of the slides and narration for this module
5.3.1 Handout notes – Part I ( PDF | Digital )
5.3.2 Handout notes – Part II ( PDF | Digital )
5.4 Mod. 5 Quiz I – online, interactive quiz (20 questions selected randomly from a pool of 60 items)
5.5 Mod. 5 Quiz II – printable / PDF version of quiz with answer key (60 questions)
Module 6: Electronic Documentation
6.1 Video presentation – narrated with notes (16 slides)
6.2 Podcast – click to listen, or right-click to download the audio file to listen off-line (15:50 minutes - 15 MB)
6.3 Handout notes ( PDF | Digital ) – printable and digital versions of the slides and narration for this module
6.4 Mod. 6 Quiz I – online, interactive quiz (20 questions selected randomly from a pool of 30 items)
6.5 Mod. 6 Quiz II – printable / PDF version of quiz with answer key (30 questions)
Module 7: Additional Exercises and Resources
7.1 Case Study 1: Acute Care – Post-Operative ---> ( Digital | PDF )
7.2 Case Study 2: Community / Home Care --->( Digital | PDF )
7.3 Case Study 3: Continuing / Long Term Care – Geriatrics ---> ( Digital | PDF )
7.4 Terminology Game – a fun way to test your knowledge of the terms related to accurate documentation (15 items randomly selected from a pool of 70 questions)
7.5 Documentation Course ( Digital | PDF ) – the full-text digital and print version of this Nursing Documentation 101 course
7.6 Final Course Examination I – This final exam consists of 40 randomly selected questions from a pool of 140 items. A printable CLPNA Certificate of Completion is available upon passing this exam with a score of 80% or better. If you are an Alberta LPN, please enter your Registration Number when requested. Everyone else, leave in the default number. If you want a copy of the Final Exam Results e-mailed to yourself (or anyone else), enter the appropriate e-mail address. Otherwise, leave it blank. (Results are ONLY e-mailed if you have passed the exam).
7.7 Final Course Examination II – This exam is the same as above, except that it consists of 80 randomly selected questions from a pool of 140 items. All other conditions are the same.
7.8 Documentation Attitude Checklist ( Digital | PDF ) – a checklist on your attitudes towards documenting
7.9 Terms to Avoid in Documentation ( Digital | PDF ) – a list you can view or print out and post
7.10 Documentation Principles ( Digital | PDF ) – 12 principles you can view or print out for a handy reference
7.11 Word Crimes – a fun music video by "Weird Al" Yankovic about using proper grammar (YouTube)
7.12 Glossary of Terms ( Digital | PDF )
7.13 References ( Digital | PDF )
7.14 Legal and Credits ( Digital | PDF )
Course Evaluation
Nursing Documentation 101 Evaluation – Please complete this online survey after finishing this Course. Your feedback and comments will greatly assist CLPNA in developing and delivering effective, quality nursing educational resources.
The Final Exams can be completed on regular browsers, tablets and smart phones. To obtain a Certificate, you must be connected to the Internet, and cookies must be enabled in your browser. Otherwise the exam results cannot be sent to the Certificate script.
The presentations, podcasts and module quizzes can be played on regular browsers, tablets and mobile phones. For best viewing on Apple's devices, download and install the FREE Articulate Player App from the iTunes Store. If you are using an Android device, download and install the FREE Android Player App from Google Play. With this apps, all components can be downloaded to your mobile device for off-line use.
To view and download the PDF/PRINT documents requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
If you are using these quizzes or final exam for class assignments or continuing education credits, and want a copy of the Results for your records, enter your name when requested. Otherwise, use "Guest" and proceed with the quiz or exam.