Legal and Ethical BehaviorDifficulty 2/5
An aide runs out of time and charts care that was not actually provided. How is this best characterised?
- AFalsification of the record, which is a legal and ethical breach
- BAn acceptable shortcut, provided the care is given later that shift
- CA documentation error to be corrected at the next opportunity
- DA supervision issue to be resolved between the aide and the nurse
Show answer and rationale
Correct: A. Recording care that did not happen misleads everyone who relies on the record, including the licensed nurse making decisions from it. The exam treats it as a legal question, not a paperwork one.
- B — Charting in advance of care is falsification regardless of the intention to catch up.
- C — An error is unintentional; recording care known not to have been given is not.
- D — Supervision may be a factor, but the act itself is a falsified record.