Carrying around your brain sheet?

RN403, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2015

I utilize scrub pants with a pocket on the side of my leg. I fold my brain sheet long ways in half and store it in there. You could also kind of roll it up so it doesn't get folded. Works better this way, for me anyhow.

loriangel14, RN · Aug 9, 2015

Yep I just put it in my pocket.

GuEsT78 · Aug 9, 2015

Years ago, when I worked at Seattle Children's, the hospital supplied the nursing staff with a printed 4x6 card with places for a child's name, condition, and treatment. It was perfect. It was thick enough not to wear out over a single shift. Folded once, it fit well into a tunic pocket. In the hustle and bustle of caring for children with leukemia in the middle of the night, my handwritten notes were easier to consult and change than any smartphone app. It was, to use your term, my "brain sheet." I'd have never managed without it.

You might check Google and see if anyone sells such cards or see if enough nurses are interested in using them that it'd make sense for your hospital to supply them. Avoiding a single medication screw-up could recoup the modest cost. Any print shop could do the work.

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Failing that, you can create your own the same way that I print my own business cards. Go to a business supply store and find 8.5x11 card stock that's perforated for 4x6 cards. Here's an example of what you'd want:

Amazon.com : Avery Postcards for Laser Printers, Uncoated, 4 x 6 Inches, White, Box of 100 (05389) : Blank Postcards : Office Products

The price works out to about 7 cents each. Use a word processing program or a specialized Avery app to create a table with just the combination of lines and boxes to suit your needs. You can pick the right Avery app for you here:

Free Online Templates | Labels, Business Cards, Greeting Cards, T-Shirt Transfers | Avery Design & P

You might even adapt the content to the particular needs of your unit. If something is commonly done or not done, create a check box for it. Note too that laser printers and inkjet printers usually need a different card stock.

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Or, if you want to be simpler, just get a box of sturdy, 8.5x11 card stock. Cut in half, it'll be 8.5 x 5.5 inches, Folded once, that should fit fine in a tunic pocket. If printing with a computer is a nuisance for you, create a master copy with a computer, then use a copy machine whenever you need more copies.

That card is handy in another way. When I had a spare moment, I'd pull it out and review all I needed to do, even hours away. That provided a good memory refresher, especially when things got hectic or the night long.

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You can see what my work at Seattle Children's was like in My Nights with Leukemia: Caring for Children with Cancer. Their care was very complex. Virtually every kid had two or three IV pumps and was getting multiple treatments at one time, some of them very nasty drugs. A card that could handle that can handle almost anything.

Here's a Youtube lip-synch video done where I worked:

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Oh, and if you find yourself forgetting things, make that card two-sided: one side for patients and the other for times. If you think you'll misplace it, get that card stock in a bright color.

Finally, remembering routine times was easy: For example, 4 a.m always meant vital signs. But remembering out of the ordinary events was more iffy. Blood products meant checking a child every 15 minutes for the first hour, every 30 minutes for the second hour and then (if it mattered) every hour after that. To make sure I never failed, I got a small pocket alarm to serve as an extra "brain." A smartphone timer app would work as well, although it might not be quite as quick to set. What's quick is what you're more likely to do.

You mentioned your smartphone. Developers are creating smartphone apps to replace these cards, but this may be one of those situations where it's hard to beat paper for ease of use.

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2015

mine used to look like absolute rubbish when i was done with my shift, even now flying- i keep a sheet with me with all my info in one of my leg pockets. sometimes its just needed :)..

tsm007 · Aug 10, 2015

mine used to look like absolute rubbish when i was done with my shift, even now flying- i keep a sheet with me with all my info in one of my leg pockets. sometimes its just needed :)..

I utilize scrub pants with a pocket on the side of my leg. I fold my brain sheet long ways in half and store it in there. You could also kind of roll it up so it doesn't get folded. Works better this way, for me anyhow.

Hmm never tried keeping it in a leg pocket. That might help actually.

tsm007 · Aug 10, 2015

Years ago, when I worked at Seattle Children's, the hospital supplied the nursing staff with a printed 4x6 card with places for a child's name, condition, and treatment. It was perfect. It was thick enough not to wear out over a single shift. Folded once, it fit well into a tunic pocket. In the hustle and bustle of caring for children with leukemia in the middle of the night, my handwritten notes were easier to consult and change than any smartphone app. It was, to use your term, my "brain sheet." I'd have never managed without it.
You might check Google and see if anyone sells such cards or see if enough nurses are interested in using them that it'd make sense for your hospital to supply them. Avoiding a single medication screw-up could recoup the modest cost. Any print shop could do the work.
-----
Failing that, you can create your own the same way that I print my own business cards. Go to a business supply store and find 8.5x11 card stock that's perforated for 4x6 cards. Here's an example of what you'd want:
Amazon.com : Avery Postcards for Laser Printers, Uncoated, 4 x 6 Inches, White, Box of 100 (05389) : Blank Postcards : Office Products
The price works out to about 7 cents each. Use a word processing program or a specialized Avery app to create a table with just the combination of lines and boxes to suit your needs. You can pick the right Avery app for you here:
Free Online Templates | Labels, Business Cards, Greeting Cards, T-Shirt Transfers | Avery Design & P
You might even adapt the content to the particular needs of your unit. If something is commonly done or not done, create a check box for it. Note too that laser printers and inkjet printers usually need a different card stock.
----
Or, if you want to be simpler, just get a box of sturdy, 8.5x11 card stock. Cut in half, it'll be 8.5 x 5.5 inches, Folded once, that should fit fine in a tunic pocket. If printing with a computer is a nuisance for you, create a master copy with a computer, then use a copy machine whenever you need more copies.
That card is handy in another way. When I had a spare moment, I'd pull it out and review all I needed to do, even hours away. That provided a good memory refresher, especially when things got hectic or the night long.
----
You can see what my work at Seattle Children's was like in My Nights with Leukemia: Caring for Children with Cancer. Their care was very complex. Virtually every kid had two or three IV pumps and was getting multiple treatments at one time, some of them very nasty drugs. A card that could handle that can handle almost anything.
Here's a Youtube lip-synch video done where I worked:
----
Oh, and if you find yourself forgetting things, make that card two-sided: one side for patients and the other for times. If you think you'll misplace it, get that card stock in a bright color.
Finally, remembering routine times was easy: For example, 4 a.m always meant vital signs. But remembering out of the ordinary events was more iffy. Blood products meant checking a child every 15 minutes for the first hour, every 30 minutes for the second hour and then (if it mattered) every hour after that. To make sure I never failed, I got a small pocket alarm to serve as an extra "brain." A smartphone timer app would work as well, although it might not be quite as quick to set. What's quick is what you're more likely to do.
You mentioned your smartphone. Developers are creating smartphone apps to replace these cards, but this may be one of those situations where it's hard to beat paper for ease of use.

Lots of great ideas. I'm going to experiment with card stock and see if it holds up any better.

GhosttRN · Aug 11, 2015

I used a small clipboard that could fit in my pocket and I wrapped the full sheet around the clipboard. I loved that. Small enough to pocket it, sturdy enough to wright on it. I found a few in the dollar section at target once. "Whitecoat clipboard" is also something similar. A large regular clipboard is just too unwieldy.

I also had a friend who used note cards bound by a ring.

You'll find something that works for ya. Have fun!

BrandonLPN, LPN · Aug 11, 2015

Just out of curiosity, why do you all keep it in your pocket instead of just carrying a clipboard?

I always carry my clipboard around with me, it would drive me nuts to have to keep taking a folded piece of paper out of my pocket.

loriangel14, RN · Aug 11, 2015

I find that with a clipboard I just set it down and then I can't find it again. If the paper is in my pocket it's easy to find. It also doesn't tie up one hand when I need two hands to do something.

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2015

Just out of curiosity, why do you all keep it in your pocket instead of just carrying a clipboard?
I always carry my clipboard around with me, it would drive me nuts to have to keep taking a folded piece of paper out of my pocket.

when i worked in the hospital i had a clipboard that i had it on , or i would have a bunch of little cheat sheet resources inside the clipboard. but the sheet. its where id scribble notes , have the med times etc etc & thats easier to shove in my pocket while im trying to keep a pt from falling. :)

tsm007 · Aug 12, 2015

I used a small clipboard that could fit in my pocket and I wrapped the full sheet around the clipboard. I loved that. Small enough to pocket it, sturdy enough to wright on it. I found a few in the dollar section at target once. "Whitecoat clipboard" is also something similar. A large regular clipboard is just too unwieldy.
I also had a friend who used note cards bound by a ring.
You'll find something that works for ya. Have fun!

I went ahead and ordered one. This might be just what I needed!