Which quote reflects Sheila Nicholson's view on documentation?

• A. Your documentation will be your best friend or your worst enemy.
• B. Documentation is optional in clinical practice.
• C. Notes should be brief and informal.
• D. Records can be ignored in litigation.

Answer: (A)

Documentation in clinical practice is a record of what happened, why decisions were made, and how the patient progressed. Sheila Nicholson’s view that your documentation will be your best friend or your worst enemy captures how critical this record is: when notes are complete, accurate, timely, and written with clear clinical reasoning, they protect patient safety, support continuity of care, and provide legal and professional protection. When documentation is incomplete, inaccurate, or biased, it can mislead teammates, obscure patient needs, and raise liability concerns. So this quote best reflects the idea that how you document matters as much as the care you provide. It’s not optional, notes should be thorough and professional rather than brief or informal, and records do matter in legal contexts.