Federal Nursing Home Administrator Practice Exam

What is a likely result of directing staff to focus more on resident care rather than charting?

1. Better resident care with fewer deficiency citations

2. Better resident care, but increased deficiency citations

3. Worse resident care but improved documentation

4. No change in care quality

The correct answer is: Better resident care, but increased deficiency citations

Directing staff to prioritize resident care over charting can lead to improved interactions, enhanced services, and a more personalized approach to care for residents. Focusing on residents directly may result in better physical and emotional outcomes, creating a more attentive and responsive care environment. However, while the quality of care might improve, the emphasis on reducing documentation can lead to challenges. Care facilities are required to maintain accurate and thorough charts to comply with regulatory standards and ensure continuity of care. Such records play a vital role in identifying health trends, monitoring changes in residents' conditions, and safeguarding against legal issues. If staff members allocate less time to documentation, it may lead to incomplete records or inadequate assessments, increasing the risk of deficiencies during audits or inspections. Regulation compliance hinges not only on the quality of care provided but also on how well that care is recorded and communicated. When documentation is lacking, it can result in deficiency citations from regulatory agencies, as they may find that the standards for record-keeping have not been met despite improved direct care. Thus, while resident care improves, the lack of accountability and documentation may result in more scrutiny and ultimately more deficiency citations.