NEW NURSE ADVICE

Thanks so much. Any changes in life are difficult for me, but I put myself out there for the wonderful experience of living a fuller, richer life. Your messages are incredibly kind!

Thanks for your post, I am starting my first RN job (2nd career) at the end of the month and will try to keep your advice in mind, especially the being happy and staying sane parts. You mention making your own Kardex/MAR notes. Do you know if/where there are examples of nurses' worksheets, so I can see what might best fit my organizational style?

I just did a quick search on the allnurses.com search function, up at the top of the page, near the letterhead. "nurses worksheet" brought up several results.

I'm not very computer literate, or I'd try to do some links. I even had trouble opening the links I found. We've gone to computer charting at my facility, and I've been lobbying for a more intuitive system, wherein successfully filling out a flowsheet would result in seeing a picture of a scantily-clad Asian woman. Because that's how I've developed most of my computer skills. So far, management has resisted this excellent idea.

My own worksheet is very simple. Probably too simple. Name, room number, service, diagnosis at the top. Activity, diet, precautions, vital sign frequency under room number. allergies, age, gender under name. Spaces for report and my own findings by system cover most of the page. Area at the bottom for scheduled meds/times, smaller sub area for prns given. Dressing changes, other treatments done or to be done usually above the prn section, or with the associated system, or on a paper towel in my pocket.

Uh, actually, I'm a poor one to give advice on getting organized, though perhaps no one is in a better position to realize how important it is. Or would be. Theoretically.

Thanks for the help.