A nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of indirect care interventions for a client who has diabetes mellitus. Which of the following are appropriate indicators of indirect care outcomes?
A.
The client’s blood glucose level is within the target range.
B.
The client’s medical record reflects accurate and timely documentation.
C.
The nurse adheres to infection control policies when handling glucose testing supplies.
D.
The nurse consults with a dietitian about the client’s nutritional needs.
E.
The client expresses satisfaction with the quality of care received.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. The client’s medical record reflects accurate and timely documentation.
Explanation:
Indirect care interventions are activities performed by healthcare professionals that support and enhance direct care but are not directly delivered to the patient. These activities involve tasks that help ensure the overall quality and safety of patient care. The effectiveness of indirect care interventions can often be assessed by evaluating outcomes related to the quality of documentation, adherence to policies, and communication with other healthcare providers.
Option B: The client’s medical record reflects accurate and timely documentation
This option is a key indicator of effective indirect care outcomes. Accurate and timely documentation in the client’s medical record is essential for ensuring continuity of care, effective communication among the healthcare team, and legal accountability. Proper documentation helps in tracking the client’s progress, assessing the effectiveness of interventions, and making necessary adjustments to the care plan. It also ensures that all relevant information is available for ongoing care and decision-making.
Option A: The client’s blood glucose level is within the target range
While maintaining blood glucose levels within the target range is an important outcome for clients with diabetes mellitus, it directly measures the effectiveness of direct care interventions rather than indirect ones. Direct care involves hands-on tasks like administering insulin or educating the patient on glucose monitoring.
Option C: The nurse adheres to infection control policies when handling glucose testing supplies
Adhering to infection control policies is crucial for patient safety, but it is a measure of adherence to best practices and policies rather than an outcome of indirect care interventions. This behavior supports indirect care but does not directly measure its effectiveness.
Option D: The nurse consults with a dietitian about the client’s nutritional needs
Consulting with a dietitian is an indirect care intervention that supports the overall management of diabetes. However, the effectiveness of this intervention is not measured by the action itself but by outcomes such as improved nutritional management documented in the client’s record.
Option E: The client expresses satisfaction with the quality of care received
Client satisfaction is a direct outcome of care quality but is more related to direct patient care and overall service quality rather than specifically measuring indirect care interventions.
In summary, accurate and timely documentation is a direct measure of the effectiveness of indirect care interventions, as it reflects how well the supporting tasks are being executed to facilitate comprehensive and coordinated patient care.