With a practical nurse's shift ending and charting incomplete, what is the appropriate action?

• A. Finish charting after shift next day
• B. Finish the charting before leaving
• C. Ignore and leave blank
• D. Deliver chart to supervisor without review

Answer: (B)

Timely, complete documentation is essential for patient safety and continuity of care. Finishing charting before leaving ensures that the patient’s status, treatments, and responses are recorded while the information is freshest, reducing the risk of memory gaps or miscommunication for the next shift. It also supports accountability and protects both patient and nurse legally, since decisions and actions are documented in a timely record. Delaying charting to the next day creates gaps that can lead to errors, and leaving records incomplete or unreviewed can compromise care. If something urgent prevents full completion, document what you can and note what remains for the oncoming shift, but the standard practice is to complete charting before the shift ends.