Why do nurses chart in 3rd person?

1 I've always found charting pretty artificial, anyway, but I've always wondered why we chart in 3rd person? Why don't we say "I found" or "I did..."? Anybody know?
I've worked at places that did allow for "normal" wording... but- a) it's about the patient, not the nurseb) it's supposed to be objectiveWriting in the first person can sound subjective and about the nurse's experience- not what the patient is experiencing...imho

Mainly because we observe the patient from a third person perspective. Luckily for you, I minored in english so I will give some insight.First person is generally reserved for informal writing. When writing in a professional context, third person is preferred because it removes (you) from the picture and places emphasis on the subject. The sentence is written better when emphasis is placed on the subject, rather than shared between the subject and the pronoun.

All your charting is for the Lawyers.It's proven, no one reads the chart but them...

Take writing 101 in college, writing in the first person is generally discouraged.....

Same reason you use "consistent with" instead of "looked like". This rn does laugh sometimes when reviewing this rn's charting.

I agree with all the above plus, many different people are adding to and working with charts so best to keep in 3rd person so it is only about the pt..l remember being taught not to chart the phrase "Patient easily aroused" lol

I avoid the pronoun. "Mom teary, social services consult offered." But when it gets complicated, like a big social concern or inappropriate comments, I keep it simple: "Patient said... I replied...."

Quote from relgis15Mainly because we observe the patient from a third person perspective. Luckily for you, I minored in english so I will give some insight.First person is generally reserved for informal writing. When writing in a professional context, third person is preferred because it removes (you) from the picture and places emphasis on the subject. The sentence is written better when emphasis is placed on the subject, rather than shared between the subject and the pronoun.

I have used first personat times and I think it is appropriate, especially for clarity. If you say:"Called physician..." it is not crystal clear that you personally did so; the unit clerk could have done it. If the patient punched you, why not say, "Patient punched me..." To say "Patient punched the nurse..." is confusing. I have seen people chart "Patient punched the undersigned..." and I think that is really unnecessarily wordy. I do avoid the pronoun I, however, when charting routine info.

I refer to myself as "writer" when I chart... not the "nurse". If that helps.

I don't refer to myself at all in my charting. I only chart what the patient was doing what happened to the patient etc. Ex. Pt pacing in room yelling and swearing. Encouraged pt to calmly verbalize concerns. Pt verbalized concerns regarding having not yet seen dr. X.

Example based on patient who has already had shift assessment for LOC/neuro, ortho, ambulation/gait, etc.12/12/2011 2145"Pt. vomited 300 cc partially digested food @ 2130. No medications noted in vomitus. BP 110/74, p-96, r-20, temp- 99.4 tymp. No c/o pain or severe, continuing nausea. Skin warm, slightly diaphoretic, and has some circumoral pallor- otherwise pink with cap refill <3 seconds. Lungs clear. Bowel sounds + x 4- active. Refused po Zofran. MD notified of above, and order received for Zofran 16mg IVP q4h prn. Order sent to pharmacy- and awaiting processing. Cool cloth provided for behind patient's neck as requested. Pt. states nausea is better, but still present- and would like Zofran when it arrives from pharmacy."12/12/2011 2200"Zofran arrived from pharmacy and given to pt per orders".OK. You are already the assigned nurse. You did the shift assessment (signed your name- so it's clear that it's YOU). This (once again) is about the patient. The individual nurse is so totally irrelevant (unless you get sued over writing novels in the chart that in some way indicate negligence). You sign your name after every entry. Unless you chart that someone else did something, who else would it be? Even if the patient beats you to a pulp, it's not about you.... "Pt. became violent and repeatedly struck this nurse about the head and neck and poked an eye out. Pt. restrained by security and given PRN IM antipsychotic by Nurse Dingbat @ 2345"