Computers that don't work

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2012

You need to have a plan in place.

First,from my understanding it is best to fully charge them and then use them,but the only way that can be done is if you rotate them. So what we do is is to have 2-4 charging at all times...a note is placed on them that says "charging" and the staff must be compliant with the process. My understanding is that this will prolong battery life and functionality. Find out the best way to charge..there may be differnrt ways or in your case it may not matter

Next you must have a system in place for repair....is it you IT department? Often what

happens is that a COW or WOW (workstation on wheels) will not be pulled out of service when a problem is identified. It seems none takes the initiative b/c they say they are too busy. They just go looking for another one. It is to the benefit of all if it is immediaetly taken out of service. You must have some process for doing this!

If you cannot get the managers help..bypass them and find out the department that manages problems with the COWs or WOWs and follow the above steps. the other thing you can do is everyone write up an incident report every single time you have a problem..it will take time but eventually it will get back to the manager and he or she will then be forced to fix the problem..just be factual.and include the time spent solving the problem. " I had to try 3 COWs before I could get one to work and this took up 25 min of my valuable time".

rnckr, ADN · Dec 26, 2012

We are constantly charging the COWs. Lack of charge is only one part of the problem. I have gotten into the habit of plugging my COW in during each stop in a room. I like your suggestion of bypassing the manager. I will contact IT myself and see what they suggest. Our glucose machines are also frequently broken. I work for a not-for-profit entity but they own 30+ hospitals so it isn't a small organization. To me, this shows a total lack of respect for the nurses.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2012

The lack of charge may indicate that you are charging them incorrectly

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2012

If possible try to start the day with a fully charged COW or WOW. The battery usually lasts 5 hrs..then plug in as you go ,Also when you can try to leave it plugged in a bit and try to use a standard computer on the unit especially when you may have a little longer charting to perform and that way you can rest your legs as well. If a battery cannot be fully charged it needs a NEW BATTERY

Altra, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2012

To me, this shows a total lack of respect for the nurses.

I think the lack of respect is for the patients, but that's just me. :cautious:

OP, do you not have an IT "help desk" to call for assistance?

eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN · Dec 26, 2012

We have computers in every room, which is great until one of them breaks. The COW or WOWs (whichever) are physician use only. So you have to go old fashion and do manual entry at the desk and take it to the patient without scanning it. Then you get in trouble for a lower scan rate.

I do find it appalling that some nurses report the computers broken when they've just been unplugged. Oh the lack of brief troubleshooting.

Mulan · Dec 26, 2012

Sounds very familiar.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 26, 2012

I am a new nurse. I have been working at a large hospital on a cardiac/pulmonary stepdown unit for 6 months. One thing that strikes me is the computers that the nurses use, both COWs and computers in patient rooms, don't work consistently. This is appalling to me. My COW locks up, the battery dies, it refuses to scan, or randomly reboots throughout the night. I change COWs and have the same things happen. I have similar problems if I use the computers located in patient rooms. This really slows me down. I have a lot of work to do anyway, and computer problems just needlessly add to my frustration. The patients see my computer problems. This paints a bad image for patients. I tell management and they don't seem to care. Nurses who have worked there longer know nothing will be done to fix it. In my prior career, I have seen facility managers fired for failure to maintain equipment, but in the hospital I work at, nobody seems to care. My question is this: Are all hospitals like this or is it just my hospital that doesn't care if the equipment I need doesn't work?

So when you discover a computer with an issue, are you contacting IT? When they whine about "do you know what time it is?" and "Is it really necessary that this be taken care of right now?" say Yes. To both. If they try to walk you through troubleshooting on the phone and you have time, go through it. If you don't have time, tell them you're too busy caring for actual patients and you need THEM to come in and deal with the accursed computer. That's THEIR job. I'm not entirely sure what you're expecting management to do for you. Call IT and badger them to come fix the computer? Not their job.

Yes, it sucks when the computers don't work, and it's hard to keep up with actual patient care with recalcitrant electronics slowing you down. But it's our job to take care of the equipment we need to do our jobs. So if everyone is just going to get another computer instead of getting the balky one FIXED, nothing will change.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2012

Sounds like my hospital. We had exactly enough computers for each room. There were no extras if one broke and at least 3-4 of them (out of 20) were broken on any given day. At full census, that meant at least 4 (possibly 8 if they were in double rooms) patients did not have a functioning computer at their beside. We were expected to scan all meds and if you happened to be assigned to patients whose computers weren't working and therefore couldn't scan meds, your name went up on the wall (like how when you were in 3rd grade you had to write your name on the blackboard if you were bad) as someone whose scanning percentage wasn't high enough. If you protested and explained that you attempted to scan meds but the computer was broken, you'd be told that you should have gone into another room at 2am and woken up all parents/patients to steal that computer and leave your colleague in a lurch. If these parents then complained about nurses coming into their room in the middle of the night to retrieve a computer and woke everyone up by bumping into the bed on their patient satisfaction survey, that would be up on the wall with your name highlighted as well.

Thanks, OP, you've reminded me yet again how much I DON'T miss hospital nursing. :)

Riseupandnurse · Dec 27, 2012

Lots of problems with barcoders. A student figured out to take it into the room still in its charger and then plug it in in the room while scanning. Only way to keep the charge long enough to get through the meds.

wanderlust99 · Dec 27, 2012

It varies from hospital to hospital. As a traveler I've worked in many. In some hospitals you simply pick up a phone and someone will be there in 10 minutes to fix your computer. Most other places you call the help desk and someone will at least assist you right away.

Always contact your IT or help desk department for computer trouble. They're not nurse managers, so they are more likely to be able to solve your problem properly and in a timely manner.