My employer has asked me to co-sign for the care that a nursing student has provided. I understand that CNO states in the Documentation Standard that, “documentation is completed by the individual who performed the action or observed the event.” Should I be co-signing for the care that a nursing student has provided?

No. Co-signing blurs accountability; an entry followed by two signatures does not clearly indicate which individual provided what care.

The Documentation practice standard says that the individual who performs the action or observes the event should document it. The exception to this rule is when there is a designated recorder, such as in a code situation. For more information, please see the Documentation practice standard.