Brain Sheet

Specialties Emergency

Updated:   Published

Happy New Year allnurses! I will be starting my new job in a 23 hour observation unit and was wondering if anyone had a good brain sheet or any type of organizational tips I could use to help me with the whole process. I'm very excited and nervous of course. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Should I just use a regularly med surg brain sheet?

Thanks in advance.

Specializes in Emergency.

Am I the only one out there that has no idea what a brain sheet is? I'm assuming it's some kind of organizational thing, but I've never heard that term before. Can someone be so kind to explain it to me?

1 Votes
Specializes in ED, trauma.
LalaJJB said:
Am I the only one out there that has no idea what a brain sheet is? I'm assuming it's some kind of organizational thing, but I've never heard that term before. Can someone be so kind to explain it to me?

It is an organizational tool for keeping information on your patient together. It may include any variety of things depending on the unit and what is needed.

It can include data from report, assessment data, VS, accuchecks, etc.

They are usually a typed form and you fill in data throughout the day. Some enjoy a typed form, others just use a piece of paper and scribble. If you use the search box in the upper right, just type "brain sheet" and you will find a wealth of them. Esme12 has a number of them that she often provides.

1 Votes
Specializes in ED, trauma.
LalaJJB said:
Am I the only one out there that has no idea what a brain sheet is? I'm assuming it's some kind of organizational thing, but I've never heard that term before. Can someone be so kind to explain it to me?

Maybe "report sheet" is a term you are more familiar with?

1 Votes

I have one that I used in the ED all the time...it's stored on my work computer, so I'll send it to ya when I get back in on Saturday

1 Votes
Specializes in LTC, MDS, ER.

I just started in er (minor care to begin, then hopefully advancing to the main er in a year or so) after working a rehab type setting. I loved my brain sheets but quickly learned the way I used to do it won't work in this setting. I started using a blank piece of printer paper folded into fourths (fits perfectly in my pocket) and whenever I go into a pt room, enter X-rays labs whatever, I document the time on the left side, pts room number and initials and any info I want to remember for charting. Once I chart it I cross it out with a yello highlighter. Just an idea :)

1 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I see that you are working a CDU...a clinical decision unit. There are CDU's that are adjacent to the ED in many ED's I have worked. You will need to be highly organized......for there will be almost hourly labs for cardiac rule out etc......You will need brain sheets.....organization is key!

brain sheets.......here are a few.

I have made some for nursing students and some other an members (daytonite, RIP) have made these for others.....adapt them way you want. I hope they help

5 Pt. Shift.doc

1 patient Float.doc

MTPMedSurg (2).doc

Report Sheet.doc

FinalGraduateShiftReport.doc

DAY SHEET 2 doc.doc

1 Votes
Specializes in RN-BC, ONC, CEN... I've been around.

I used a brainsheet on the floor, but I had a fairly stable group of patients (6 on average with a turnover of half of them qday) and the reason why I used it was for report. Since I discharge so many patients without transferring them to another nurse a sheet like that would be kind of pointless and a waste of time.

1 Votes

There is a nursing iPhone and iPad app to make it easier for nurses life and it ibased on the brain sheet. You can also keep track of completed tasks are completed and shift information too. App is called myShift and check it out in Apple app store.

1 Votes
Specializes in Emergency Room.

I use plain 8 x 11 paper. I write as follows

Name Chief Complaint

Allergies

Abnormal labs IV location

I underline tasks that have been done and "circle" tasks that need to be completed.

1 Votes
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
Esme12 said:
I see that you are working a CDU...a clinical decision unit. There are CDU's that are adjacent to the ED in many ED's I have worked. You will need to be highly organized......for there will be almost hourly labs for cardiac rule out etc......You will need brain sheets.....organization is key!

Hourly labs on a rule out ACS patient? Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. Even most of my ICU patients don't need labs hourly. ?

Our obs patients admitted to r/o ACS get 2 additional sets of cardiac enzymes drawn q4 or q8 ... and a stress and/or echo done in the meantime ... and discharged.

1 Votes
Specializes in ER, progressive care.

When I float to the ER, I use paper towels, scrap pieces of paper....even alcohol swabs (writing on the outside package) if I don't have anything to write on. I just write notes. I have brain sheets when I'm on my own floor (or ICU or wherever they decide to send me) but I find in the ER it can kind of slow you down...probably because you usually only have these patients for a few hours vs. a whole 12-hour shift. Jotting down quick notes on what needs to be done seems to be more efficient, in my opinion.

1 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Altra said:
Hourly labs on a rule out ACS patient? Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. Even most of my ICU patients don't need labs hourly. ?

Our obs patients admitted to r/o ACS get 2 additional sets of cardiac enzymes drawn q4 or q8 ... and a stress and/or echo done in the meantime ... and discharged.

Yes hourly labs or hourly someting are a distinct, frequent possibility. Think outside of the ICU and having 2, maybe 3 patients. On CDU's (clinical decision units) with a potential for 6-8 patients per nurse (depending on the shift) and the size of the unit there is a distinct possibility that there will be someone getting a lab almost every hour.

These are HIGH yeild, HIGH overturn/transfer units. They are admitting, discharging transferring patients several times a shift. You might start off with 6 patients but with admissions, transfers to ICU, Cath Lab, Telemetry, or another facility when their pain becomes active.....there is every potential (on bad nights) to have multiple patients in those same 6 beds.

These units are VERY busy when used correctly....even on good days these are VERY busy units and have tho potential for very high acuity when that rule out develops chest pain with stat EKG's and labs who needs to be bolused with heparin, nitro started and the patient transferred to the ICU/telemetry with another patient in the ED waiting for that bed. These units are no joke.

The CDU's (clinical decision unit) I have seen (grant it I have only seen 2) require highly skilled, highly motivated, extremely organized individuals for them to run smoothly. While some sort of hourly something going on is a very busy night....it does occur.

1 Votes
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