Documentation in Contemporary Times: Challenges and Successes in Teaching

Teaching documentation skills and concepts to the emerging professional is a new challenge for nurse educators as the infusion of meaningful use is implemented within nursing's affiliating agencies. Discipline mandates and accreditation requirements expect the emerging professional to be current in technology and communication as one prepares to care for patients in contemporary times. The purpose of this instructional opportunity was to examine issues contributing to the successful learning of electronic documentation within an undergraduate nursing course in western Pennsylvania. This article documents one approach to infusing documentation skills into an obstetrical clinical experience. However, the best method of instruction for teaching learning to undergraduate nursing students as relates to electronic documentation remains unclear at this time. Current inquiry and future research into evidence-based practice are needed as preparation gears toward workforce ready graduates who will be skilled and adept at documentation using current technologies. Teaching skills for information systems, particularly the electronic health record, requires identification of challenges and obstacles, which can be surmounted if academe and corporate culture work in tandem.