Charting in patient rooms

[JMoney]

Recently, we were informed by administration (who do NOT stand all day) that we are not to chart in the nurse's station or pods. That we are to do all charting at the bedside, and that sitting is for break time. This really frustrates me. It seems unrealistic, unfair to the patient who wants to rest, and unfair to make staff stand for hours at a time. Is this something anyone else has to do at work? Is my facility just late in adopting this practice? I believe they have moved to this practice because a: doctors are complaining that there is no where to sit (not true) and b: there is a perception that if staff is sitting at a computer, then they aren't caring for patients. I'm really frustrated by this.

[caliotter3]

I have found it to be awkward when a doctor is busy typing away on his laptop during my appointment instead of making eye contact with me or performing an actual physical examination. I feel like I do not have his full attention and that I am being shortchanged. If I feel that way as a patient, I know that it would be worse if my employer put those constraints on me. And as for standing for an entire shift. No. I would be out the door at some point. My body can not take that. Akin to slavery if you ask me.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

My hospital adopted this however they put a rolling backless chair in each patient room and encouraged us to sit in their room while we chart, the computers are on the wall and have height adjustments. We do not have computers on wheels. They also want us to sit when we are doing patient teaching etc. They believe it increases patient satisfaction and increases patient comfort having you at eye level. It took some getting used to but is not so bad now, except when another discipline is using the computer to chart and you can't get to it.

If you're required to chart in the rooms, other disciplines can danged well chart at the nurse's station. But any chance to sit down in a 12 hour shift . . . if we can claim it increases patient satisfaction, so much the better!