[jetsetter]

we do all computer charting, and I have to say I truly love it, BUT. they just announced they're going to take away all the computers in the nurse's station, they have installed computers in every room, and they expect us to ALL of the charting at the bedside. Administration has gone totally insane. We are a tele unit, how on earth are we supposed to watch the monitor from inside a room. Oops, I forgot , we are all telepathic and just "know" what's going on somewhere else.
I think the idea of computers in the rooms is good, really. It would be very handy for post op pt's, when you stuck in the room for an hour anyway. It would be good for I&O's, scanning meds at the bedside, lots of things. But I spend all day on the computer, getting lab and test results, admissions, discharges, Kardex,problem lists, ordering tests and labs. all interdept memo is by email. How unprofessional am I going to look to pt family as I stand in the room 'checking my email' Heaven forbid some joke pops up. It's completely impractible. So far we fussed and groaned and comlained to the "proper" people but it has done no good.

I'm turning gray by the minute just thinking about it.

[webbiedebbie]

I absolutely hate computer charting! Every facility I have worked in has a different system. Working on a unit with 2 nurses and no unit secretary or CNA can mean many interruptions. I spend more time going back to see what what last charted in the computer than if I had the hard chart right in front of me.

We don't have computers in patient's room and it is sometimes difficult to maneuver the rolling cart into the patient's room filled with an IV pole, cots for dad's to sleep on, chairs for the many visitors, wastepaper baskets, tables, infant cribs at bedside....

Plus, I hate the fact that when things are really hectic, I may not get a chance to chart until a couple of hours later, and the computer records "knows" when I made my entry!

I love my home personal computer. It opens up the world to me. But in my workplace, I wish they would have thought things out.

[elthia]

I could not survive without computer charting and bar code med administration. the chart, labs, MAR, everything is linked together.You can go back as far as you need to in the patient's record. If the patient has a violent hx it's flagged first thing when you open the record.
When the computers are down, I'm lost.

[stdntograd06]

My place of employment has used Millenium Pharmacy for computerized medication administration and I'm wondering if anyone currently uses them or have in the past. They are a fairly new company and specialize in long term care medication administration. We have had numerous problems with this company and comments from anyone else on their experiences would be greatly appreciated.