Bridgette sits in her usual seat in the auditorium as she listens to their

orientation. Another semester has started and she is now one step closer to
her dream of becoming a Registered Nurse. She listens intently as their
Clinical Instructor briefs them on the things they need to observe in the
Clinical setting and some changes that have happened in the last few weeks,
including the style of documentation. No longer will they be writing on the
nurse’s notes the traditional old way, instead another style of charting has
been introduced.
FDAR charting. What is FDAR Charting? She has never even heard about
that before and now they are about to use that when they go on duty. What is
wrong with the old style? Why does it have to change? How do you do FDAR
charting anyway? Frustrated, she fiddles with her white uniform as she listens
more intently to what the announcer is speaking. Maybe it will shed some light
on her queries and maybe she’ll be able to understand the importance of
having to change some things.

Focus Data Action Response charting or FDAR charting, as it is more

commonly called, describes the patient’s perspective and focuses more on
documenting the patient’s current status, progress towards goals, as well as
their response to interventions.

Furthermore, it is designed to easily identify critical patient issues/concerns in

the Progress Notes, facilitate communication among all disciplines, improve
time efficiency with documentation and provide brief entries that would not
duplicate patient information already provided on flow sheet/checklist.

Certain situations call for this style of charting such as in describing a patient
problem/ focus/ concern from the care plan, documenting an activity or
treatment that was carried out, documenting new findings and an acute
change in patient’s condition, identifying the discipline making the entry as
well as the topic of the note and lastly, in describing all specifics regarding
patient and/or family teaching. Also, it may be indicated when it comes to
documenting a significant event or unusual episode in patient care, identifying
an exemption to the expected outcome such as nausea, documenting an
activity or treatment that the nurse and other members of the health team
were not carried out, and in order to best describe patient’s condition in
relation to medical diagnosis.