The Challenge
A Women's Health unit was experiencing persistently low documentation compliance among nursing staff. Analytics from the Lights On tool revealed widespread variation in practice: nurses were completing multiple admission forms for a single patient encounter, creating duplicative records, consuming unnecessary time, and introducing inconsistencies into the clinical documentation.
The administrative burden was pulling nurses away from patients. Every hour spent on redundant paperwork was an hour not spent at the bedside.
The Approach
A focused improvement initiative was launched with a clear objective: simplify documentation and return time to patient care:
- Nurses identified as having lower compliance received targeted education on the correct use of a single standardized admission form per encounter
- Training was practical and hands-on, supported by real-time feedback rather than classroom instruction alone
- Ongoing monitoring through the Lights On analytics tool gave leaders visibility into adherence patterns, enabling them to address barriers quickly
- Progress was recognized consistently to reinforce the behaviour change and sustain the new standard over time
The Outcome
Documentation compliance increased by 585 percent, transforming what had been an unreliable, inconsistent process into a standardized and sustainable practice.
The streamlined workflow freed approximately five hours of nursing time per day across the unit, time that was redirected to direct patient care.