Is point-of-care (POC) testing performed at the nursing station?

Point-of-care (POC) testing is typically performed at or near the site of patient care, which can include various locations within a healthcare facility. While it is commonly done at the bedside or in specialized areas where immediate results are needed, such as in emergency departments or outpatient settings, it is not limited to nursing stations. The primary goal of POC testing is to facilitate rapid decision-making and enhance patient management by providing timely results, which is critical for effective patient care.

Nursing stations generally serve as administrative hubs for care teams rather than direct locations for performing POC tests. While staff may prepare for testing or manage logistics from the nursing station, the actual testing occurs where patient care can be directly impacted. Therefore, indicating that POC testing is performed exclusively at the nursing station does not encompass the broader scope of where such testing can take place in various clinical environments.