Charting

[Cactus Nurse]

OK, so I know this sounds sooo dumb, but....

I work at a LTC/ Sub- Acute type of facility. It's between 5-6 pts. and I have 1 CNA. Sounds easy right?? Hmmm not my pts...

Example: today 1 pt. yelled and hit me for suctioning him when there was LOADS of secretions in there... ummm yea, refused his Bipolar meds/ schizo meds, but requested ativan lol... Another threw a urinal at my CNA and then later threw his gown on the floor, Another guy with TBI was basically jumping/ falling out of bed, I passed his room and his feet were on the floor, thank god for side rails lol... my other trach pt was coughing fresh blood through his trach and I didn't have another aerosol trach mask so I had to keep cleaning it over and over.... so on top of that weirdness and meds, breathing tx, packing wounds, trach care, trying to get this place organized.. I am always behind on my charting!

I take my notes throughout the day, but then I'm always stuck at the part to actually get them on paper. Yes we chart on paper... FML

Any suggestions? Like the mini time I have between patients and meds, etc... I'm on the phone with pharmacy or the doctor or trying to eat something....

Do you suggestion straight writing on my nurse notes instead of my scratch paper maybe? i'm so used to notes, I'm just afraid I'll get a typo or have too many "late entry" notes because I forgot something so basic....

Dumb question, I don't know how LTC with 30+ pt. can do meds, tx and chart??