UNIT 5 Documentation and Reporting Documentation and Reporting in Nursing. Introduction Documentation and reporting are essential components of nursing practice, ensuring continuity of care, legal protection, quality improvement, and communication among healthcare providers. Proper documentation enhances patient safety, supports clinical decision-making, and serves as legal evidence. I. Documentation in Nursing 1. Definition Documentation is the process of systematically recording patient-related data, nursing assessments, interventions, and outcomes in a structured format.