Computer Charting

Mystery5 · Jun 5, 2005

It's a pain in the you know what. I worked at a place that had it and found it very time consuming.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2005

It is time consuming, and a pain, but im afraid its here to stay. You just have to be diligent about either making sure you time your written notes to put in later on a backdate/time or make sure you have a computer available when you need to put in an entry.

LilRedRN1973 · Jun 5, 2005

I love our computer charting. I can't stand the other floors in the hospital that use paper charting. But I work in the ICU and my computer is sitting right outside each patient's room. So while I'm charting (there aren't a million forms to open up...it's all in one program and I can them at a glance), I can be checking my patient. The paper charting I found redundant (you charted the same damn thing in more than place and I think that opens up the chance something will be overlooked). I can do my Interdisciplinary Progress Notes whenever I want (I usually put in something q 2 hr), and I can get my charting done for 2 patients in about 15-20 minutes, depending on how critical they are. All our titrated drips are on the computer, as are the I/O, restraints, etc. I have read about other types of computer programs and figure we must be using a really user-friendly program.

Melanie = )

suzanne4, RN · Jun 6, 2005

I much prefer computer charting. If your program is working as it should, it should actually be much quicker for you to do it this way. If you need to open up a million forms that is something that your facility did, not the way any of the programs were initially created. I have used them in Critical Care, ER, as well as the OR, and they definitely save time.

webbiedebbie · Jun 6, 2005

I have never experienced computer charting until this year. I worked at one hospital where it was great! Everything was basically right there.

I am now at a hospital that has an old program and I think it is awful! I am having a very hard time keeping up with all of the pages. The most difficult thing for me is coordinating my care for patients (6-8) throughout the day and finding time to be at the computer to chart everything on them. When I got home last night, I realized that I had not charted some things and I feel just terrible about it! I gave my best care to my patients, but I let them down by not being able to document everything.

The cause of my forgetfulness was the constant interruptions throughout the day. We don't have a ward secretary or CNA on "supposedly slow days". There were only 2 of us on the floor. I had to stay 3 hours over my shift on Sat just to chart! Last night, I stayed over for one hour. Then when I got home, I realized that I had not charted a few things. This system is not user friendly! I write notes, but by the time I get to sit down and chart, I get interrupted and can't remember what I already charted and waste time looking back.

I was very proficient with hand charting and I miss it terribly. I feel I have lost control. I hate it when a physician will ask me a question about a patient, and I have to get to a computer and go through all of the steps. If I had the chart right in front of me, I could easily find the answer.

This system is stressing me out. There is nothing I can do to change it. Believe me, I am trying to keep up, but at times, it just doesn't seem worth staying in nursing any longer.