Bibliographic review on the Assessment Report at the Time of Nursing Care Discharge
Monserrat Ballesteros García, Lourdes Jiménez Navascués, M.ª Carmen Ruiz Gómez

SUMMARY

  Systematic performance of an assessment report at the time of nursing care discharge provides significant advantages from the professional, educational and legal points of view as for research and health care management.

Objective: In this study we carried out an evaluation of the existing publications on the performance and value of the assessment report at the time of nursing care discharge (ARNCD), which is basically equivalent to the summary of the nursing care chart.

Materials and methods: We have carried out a quantitative, descriptive study based on a bibliographic review of 32 papers on the ARNCD published in Spanish nursing journals.

Results: Most reports have focused on the potential usefulness of the ARNCD and have emphasized its role in the improvement in aspects like continuity of nursing care or coordination and communication among health care professionals; it is also an excellent way of proving the work carried out by nursing staff. The main drawbacks or disadvantages of its use are the need of both prior specific knowledge and motivation. A fundamental requirement for its development is the adoption of a particular nursing model. There is not an overall consistency in the criteria for elaboration of the nursing care discharge report.

Conclusions: The use of ARNCD offers a range of professional advantages.

KEY WORDS

Assessment report, nursing care discharge, nursing care model, quality.

Vol. 15 nº4-2004