A nurse realizes that an assessment completed earlier in the shift was not documented. Which action is appropriate?

A delayed entry must be clearly identified and show its actual date, time, and author while preserving the original record. Backdating, deleting original content, or asking another nurse to document care undermines record integrity.

Quick answer
Enter the omitted assessment as a labeled late entry using the current date, time, and your identity. Keep the original record visible and follow facility policy.

Why this is correct
The record must show what care occurred and when the documentation was actually added. A labeled late entry creates an audit trail that connects the author and current timestamp to the omitted assessment without making the record appear contemporaneous.

Easy analogy or mental picture
A late entry is like adding a dated footnote to a signed timeline rather than rewriting the timeline. The footnote preserves transparency; the image does not replace facility-specific electronic record procedures.

Memory hook
Late documentation stays honest: label it, use the current time, identify the author, and preserve the original record.

NCLEX decision rule
When documentation is delayed, correct the record transparently instead of backdating or erasing. Identify the addition, its author, and its actual entry time, and use the organization's approved correction process.

Why the other choices are wrong
Backdating makes delayed documentation appear contemporaneous. Deleting surrounding notes damages the audit trail, and another nurse cannot document an assessment that the first nurse performed.