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I find that most organizations do not take pictures but that is only doing them harm. I say this from my review of medical records from lawsuits due to these bad outcomes from facilities all over the country. As the expert, I can only rely upon what the nurse has documented in words or abbreviations. This is extremely inadequate to allow me to totally understand what the nurse was actually seeing. Days later after discharge, the patient has the complication develop into a large problem (necrotic ulcer, etc). They get treatment and go to a lawyer. The patient and/or lawyer usually takes pictures immediately. So I see those pictures in my review but this may or may not be what the nurse saw when the catheter was removed. Hospitals think that pictures will do them harm legally and in some cases they would serve to confirm that the nurses did miss a serious issue. But in others, they would serve to support what the nurse is saying much later. Remember, these cases take years to go through the courts. So what the nurse must testify to happened many years before and memories of the event and even the patient is gone. Pictures can definitely help these situations in my opinion.

From a clinical standpoint, pictures will help to document the progress of treatment. So again they are an assessment. ONS does recommend taking pictures, I think. Lynn

Agree with Lynn.  But becareful how you take the picture.  Need all info IN the picture....Left arm , date, time, name of pt, your signature.  We have a whole policy and superusers for this.

Jen

One other consideration... consent for photographing a patient  

Check you organization policy for taking photos. If there is none, check with the risk manager for some guidance