Older nurses taking forever to computer chart

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I've been working on the surgical floor for 9 months now and I'm starting to feel like I'm getting the hang of things on my unit. I've learned a lot of tips and tricks and my time management has really improved.

One thing I'm getting really frustrated with is that some of the older nurses take FOREVER to computer chart. And from my observation a lot of it comes from them not "knowing how to use a computer" the same way younger people do. To do a routine assessment on a total knee for example probably takes me 5-7 minutes, and that's not me rushing or anything and only talking about routine stuff. The same assessment would take some of these nurses anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

It's a little frustrating at times when they need help with other things because they used all their time "charting". Or when I need help but they can't help me because "If I leave this screen I might lose it and I've spent too much time on this!".

And truth be told I think maybe sometimes they're doing it on purpose because it gives the illusion of working, but that would be MEAN and I TRY to give everybody the benefit of the doubt. :uhoh3:

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I think it is difficult to impossible for younger generation people to understand just what a leap it has been for those of us who grew up and were educated before the existence of home computers. They take the tool for granted in the same way we would picking up a pen or a telephone. When we were in school computers were something that took up entire buildings at a university and were only seen in pictures in Life Magazine.

I can deal with computer charting but will always mutter under my breath and take more time than the "youngsters". And I do have a sneaking suspicion that many I deal with are remote descendants of HAL! (If you get that reference you are probably as old as I am).

I had a laptop that I nicknamed HAL because it definitely had a mind of its own.

Remember the computer program "Joshua" in the movie War Games? ("How about a nice game of chess?)

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Give "mature" nurses a break.You will probably be justified when you harp on the complaining ones that do not see inclined to learn.But on others that are already doing their best, give them a break please!

Some things take longer to come to others.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

As a PP suggested, "older" nurses did not grow up with computers the way the younger generation did. It may take some time to become proficient at computer charting, but I would bet the farm that they are proficient at running a code without taking forever!

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
I had a laptop that I nicknamed HAL because it definitely had a mind of its own.

Remember the computer program "Joshua" in the movie War Games? ("How about a nice game of chess?)

Would. You. Like. To. Play. A. Game?

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Would. You. Like. To. Play. A. Game?

That movie still gives me chills with that voice!

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To the ones saying they're making extra notes or doing a more detailed version, all I can say is that is not the case in my situation. I know because I've been curious about this for a while so when I'm doing my montly random chart audits I've made a point to pull certain pts that have had X or Y nurse for several days and I've combed through EVERYTHING paper and computer. They most certainly are not taking a longer time because they're doing a more detailed job.

I know I'm venting and it is NOT fair to generalized. I was just wondering if anybody else had the same frustrations as me. Maybe I'm just stuck with some LAZY nurses that are stuck in their ways.

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Specializes in OB.
That movie still gives me chills with that voice!

Considering the images of computers we grew up with it's a wonder any of us will get within 20 yards of one! Thinking of a few science fiction stories I've read - Harlen Ellison in particular!

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
To the ones saying they're making extra notes or doing a more detailed version, all I can say is that is not the case in my situation. I know because I've been curious about this for a while so when I'm doing my montly random chart audits I've made a point to pull certain pts that have had X or Y nurse for several days and I've combed through EVERYTHING paper and computer. They most certainly are not taking a longer time because they're doing a more detailed job.

I know I'm venting and it is NOT fair to generalized. I was just wondering if anybody else had the same frustrations as me. Maybe I'm just stuck with some LAZY nurses that are stuck in their ways.

You're pulling particular charts and reviewing their documentation? What part of "random" do you not get? Your "random chart audits" are essentially useless if you are singling people out to audit.

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I think it's important for younger nurses to remember it the way my friend's mother put it: "our generation are technology natives, and the generations before us are technology immigrants"

Basically, we have to remember that since we grew up with the technology, certain processes on a computer come as instinct or "just make sense" to us, whereas the generations before us have to memorize processes and can't simply "figure it out" without being shown an efficient way of doing it. It's like leaning a second language to the generations that came before us. Instead of it coming naturally, they have to be taught and practice.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Forgive me, OP, but that's not how it looks from here. From your original post, it seems like you have a particular skill set that you've decided to keep all to yourself so you can complain about your colleagues' struggles to learn it. In your second post, you admit that you've targeted those colleagues and are now gathering "intel" ... to do what? ... write them up?

What has struck many of us as ironic is that you are indulging in the very same behaviors that so many new grads complain about coming from older nurses.

May I suggest that you start by approaching those nurses when you see them struggling and see if you can be of assistance. If that's not do-able, whether it's due to their attitude or yours, you might consider talking to the IT people about continuing inservices. If you gather information on what's giving those nurses problems as well as the mistakes they're making, you and IT might be able to come up with a solution.

If you choose not to try to find a solution, then one has to wonder about your real agenda.

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Specializes in med/surg,ortho, tele,.
"Nurses eating their young" is becoming so pervasive an attitude that it's accepted as truth. Newer and less experienced nurses would never recognize the reverse attitude in themselves. Perhaps "older" nurses take longer to computer chart because they're taking the time to do it right.

Exactly. Older nurses are more likely to use the added sections for notes. Not just the drop down menu. We know the importance of charting to CYA in case of law suit or in case a complaint is sent to the board of nursing.

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You're pulling particular charts and reviewing their documentation? What part of "random" do you not get? Your "random chart audits" are essentially useless if you are singling people out to audit.

They're random in the sense that there's no specific rhyme or reason as to why one chart is chosen over the other, but we're actively encouraged to pull charts that we think something might be wrong or funny about. Since, at the time I pulled said charts, I didn't have any suspicious that'd superseded the reasons I pulled the charts I pulled. Side note I think I got a small incentive bonus because of the number of charts I audited that month :D.

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