Observation and Reporting Skills
Every healthcare professional, from EMTs to doctors, uses observation skills to evaluate a patient's physical and mental state. When you observe a patient, you're actively recording important details that help improve their care. Good observers consider what they're looking at (target), what specific aspects to focus on, and the nature of what they're observing.
Developing strong observation skills means training yourself to notice small details using all your senses. Use your sight to identify visible concerns, hearing to catch what patients say (and don't say), touch to detect physical changes, and smell to identify odors that might indicate problems.
Reporting is equally crucial in healthcare. It involves documenting or verbally communicating any unusual events or changes in patient condition. Written reports must be on proper forms and should document abnormal behaviors, signs of pain, and other important observations. Good reports always include the patient's name, address, age, ID number, and the doctor's diagnosis and orders.
Pro Tip: The most valuable healthcare reports are accurate, timely, objective, thorough, and complete. Think of your report as telling the patient's story so another healthcare worker could pick up exactly where you left off.