The case of the missing pens: A rant and an idea

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in New PACU RN.

so i recently went from a big city, teaching hospital where i was spoiled with, among other things, the latest equipment/machines, pcas, iv team, etc...and best of all

endless pen supplies for staff. :heartbeat

at my new small, dingy, community hospital - under the same health authority as above - the hospital is old, the equipment is old, pcas are available once in a blue moon, iv teams are unheard of, and everyone hoards whatever pen they have with their lives. you leave it unattended for 5 seconds and its gone.

most of my day is hunting for stupid pens. just today i lost three! three. i have no idea why the hospital does not supply it. it's not the price of the pens i'm upset about - i could get a dozen from the dollar store for a buck - but considering how much charting we do in a shift [:eek:] i really can't afford to waste precious time looking for **** pens all day.

anyway - i hope some of you can relate to how annoying this is. i just finished a night shift and instead of enjoying my cozy bed, i'm online trying to figure out how i can stop losing my darn pens and this is what i found:

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pens with attached clips :D

have any of ever used them? the reviews i found were that they were cheap and broke easily. i shall keep on searching though until solve this problem of mine.

what are your pen woes?

Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.

Go to staples.

Do u not have pockets or choose not to use them? I also lose pens on occasion, but I believe it is overthinking it to come up with some sort of contraption to keep them on your person.

Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Stick a backup in your bra!

jk

I carry mine in a small makeup bag with scissors, hemostats, etc. I also change out the inner part into a red pen and people usually won't go for it because its red..........lol

Sorry, this is what works for me.

Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I too lose pens. The way I look at it, to save MY sanity, is I'm the pen fairy. I deposit pens on surfaces and some lucky person is a pen ahead. Or if I leave it in a pts room, I gifted my pt with a pen.

But on the other hand, if I see my favorite pen in the hands of a co-worker, and I know it's mine, the gloves come off. Death match time. Watch out.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I used a similar device a few years ago when I was doing home care in the community.It didn't work that well because the pen is attached to the device by a slim cord the retracts when you let go of the pen. The trouble with that is that it is constantly pulling against the pen while you write, trying to retract. Very awkward to write with. Plus usually the quality of pen that come with that type of gadget is usually very cheap.There are many different versions of this gadget that I have seen.

There is no problem with a pen supply where I work, there is a whole cupboard full of supplies we can use, including pens but it is a pain having to go to the cupboard to get a new one every time you lose yours.

Specializes in New PACU RN.

Grace: Oh, were those pouches on my uniform for putting stuff in? Gosh darn, that's what I haven't been doing. Thanks for letting me know. ;)

Chin up, thanks for the tip. I'll buy more. I should have thought of that. :yeah:

Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I think the contraption is a good idea for backup. When you find yourself looking for your other lost pens, you could quickly reach for your contraption and finishh what you are doing until you (hopefully) find another pen.

Hospitals are so cheap nowadays, pens should be a basic item supplied! What next, bring your own printing paper?

My company is SO cheap, we have to supply our own stapler and tape as well. They claim that they replace broken ones but people 'steal' them so they don't buy more.

Me thinks why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free? Slick

Specializes in Cardiac Critical Care.

I have access to a label maker at work, so I have put my name on my pens :) Only the ones I'm attached to!

Specializes in LTC.

We have pens floating around from our ambulance company and pharmacy. But they are never around when you need them. I lose pens like its no ones business.

Then when I have lost the 7 pens on me and its only 8pm.. I search through my bag(which has everything but a pen).. and find .. a pencil. I'm like grrrrrrrrrr.

The pens must be were all the missing socks are.

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I buy my own and keep them in my pocket but if I lose one, I try to have backups. Not a fail safe plan for sure

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

i must be missing something.

i buy my own pens and either hook them over my badge lanyard or keep them in my pocket. when i had a pony tail or a bun, i'd end up with one or two pens sticking through the hair . . . good place to keep them! i keep track of them, rarely lose one, and don't understand the big deal. pens are cheap. buy your own . . . you can even order them with your name imprinted on them. you'd still have to keep track of them, but at least when someone else picked up the one you were using, you'd be able to prove it was yours.

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