Computer charting..Uhggg!

weekend warrior, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2006

I hated it at first, and there was resistance to it when it first came, like anything else but I love it now. We're on the CIMS system and it's pretty easy to find things. When I get consults writing their notes in the paper chart ( because they don't use CIMS outside the ICU and NICU ) I find it really hard to read their writing!

Thedreamer · Dec 30, 2006

I have yet to use such a device for nursing but we used it For EMT and dear god I hated it.. The PT transport could take 5 minutes and wed still be charting another 20.

I am a little scared about doing that with nursing but if it must be done it must be done. Ill just have to learn the new system.. Ours were on tablets, i dont know if the hospitals use something similar or not yet.

jetsetter · Dec 30, 2006

I love it! Some that I work w/still struggle, but since all Ive ever done is computer charting I find it incredible. We have computers in every room,so.. go into a room ... log in.... do what needs to be done.... and while the pt is chatting your ear off, I chart. walk out of room and I'm done.

Other sit around for hours working on their charting, I just dont get it. Sure, there are emergencies where you can't chart everything in real time, but they make in unnecessarily difficult by waiting to have "time" to sit and chart. do it as you go (as much as possible) and its not so bad.

moongirl · Dec 30, 2006

I like the computer charting simply because it is there when you need/want it. Its not off with a pt for a procedure, the doc isnt hogging it.. etc!

jennyfyre · Dec 30, 2006

Our unit has been on computer charting for awhile now, with clinician order entry. I'm a HUC and alot of the other unit coordinators were worried when we went to this system that they'd have nothing to do. OMG.. I'm busier now than I ever wanted to be. The younger generations seem to have less trouble getting the hang of it, but anyone not computer savvy has to really work at it. Not only do I check all the orders, I have to catch the MDs mistakes...like ordering on the wrong patient. I feel bad questioning them, but even a HUC knows that you don't need a urine preg. test on a 8mo old baby BOY. You generally don't need a troponin level on infants either! The nurses are slowly getting the hang of things but they haven't figured out that it's easier to chart vitals on the computer when you take them, rather than doing 2hr later and having to change the time on each entry to reflect when it actually happened. I'm trying to help as much as I can... and I can say that it's getting easier... but definitely not easy for all! Good luck with it!

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2006

Boy, I can certainly relate to the age gap dilemma with computer charting; these younger nurses cut through these programs like 'butter.'

Lacie, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2006

Boy, I can certainly relate to the age gap dilemma with computer charting; these younger nurses cut through these programs like 'butter.'

LOL, I can equate to this!! I'm re-entry and after reading some post related to computerized charting I'm probably going to be terrified. Old Schoolers will remember when you had to re-write with such redundancy in 3 different places the same things every patient every shift particularly in the Critical care units. Labs, prn meds, etc. Couldnt just write in one area of the chart but had to put it on the flow sheet, in the nursing notes, on the kardex, etc..... Most overtime was finishing charts and you always had overtime!

burn out · Dec 31, 2006

Count your blessings. Our hospital just got bought out and with the buy out went all the computor chart..we were state of the art with medication

eMAR and scanning meds and pt, all computor charting. Now everything is back to paper charting omg. I feel like the caveman on the GEICO commercial trying to re- invent the wheel.

tntrn, ASN, RN · Dec 31, 2006

LOL, I can equate to this!! I'm re-entry and after reading some post related to computerized charting I'm probably going to be terrified. Old Schoolers will remember when you had to re-write with such redundancy in 3 different places the same things every patient every shift particularly in the Critical care units. Labs, prn meds, etc. Couldnt just write in one area of the chart but had to put it on the flow sheet, in the nursing notes, on the kardex, etc..... Most overtime was finishing charts and you always had overtime!

With our computer program, just try finding what you've already charted. There are many "screens" and it's impossible to view everything at the same time, so I know I'm going to be missing things. I hate it.

nnurlaw · Jan 1, 2007

I am an 'older' nurse (24 year veteran), yet I really like the computer charting. I HATE when our hospital insists on adding extra paper charting to our already HUGE computer charting. Duplicate documentation is a waste of time, energy, and paper. I blatantly refuse to double chart. Otherwise, its helpful and eliminates problems with legibility of handwriting.

Rnandsoccermom · Jan 1, 2007

I am an 'older' nurse (24 year veteran), yet I really like the computer charting. I HATE when our hospital insists on adding extra paper charting to our already HUGE computer charting. Duplicate documentation is a waste of time, energy, and paper. I blatantly refuse to double chart. Otherwise, its helpful and eliminates problems with legibility of handwriting.

I agree completely. Going back to paper is like going back in time, redundancies and all.

Where I work, we use no paper at all. All orders are cross referenced to the appropriate departments. No hunting for info, it's all in the computer. Best thing is no paper MAR!!!!! Always hated those.