Crap! Am I a crusty old bat nurse?? Carrying pens...

Nurses General Nursing

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So I've noticed an interesting phenomenon lately. Our unit regularly gets students of various kinds - nursing, EMT, APN, etc. The nursing and EMT students sit in on report. Because they come to the unit often looking lost and uncomfortable and out of place, I try to do my best to get them oriented and comfortable. Explain the report, give them a report sheet and a clipboard and a place to sit.

But one thing I've noticed is that almost always, they don't have a freaking PEN!! I've snapped at a few of them, "Rule number one...ALWAYS have a pen on you!"

Yesterday my charge nurse pointed out that since everything is on the computer, they probably rarely need/use pens. I kind of had an "Oh ****!" moment. Is she right?? Is it actually possible to get through your day as a nurse without needing to carry a pen (or 2 or 4) in your pocket nowadays?

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.
If you told them to bring a protractor, they would).

I actually need a protractor this week. I am designing a mirror on a stand for home CVAD training and not a single person has one!

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

As a NUM who frequently takes in charge shifts I have a 4 colour pen and 3 highlighter system.

Pen;

Blue for report

Black for rounds

Red for issues to follow up e.g. bed 6 needs a new 20G IV for CT

Green for non clinical issues

Highlighter

Blue one strike through the name potential discharge

Full box coloured in confirmed discharge

Green pt fasting- for follow up by 2pm

Yellow needs discharge plans e.g. online referrals or paper forms or other non medical issues blocking discharge.

My boss just looks at my clipboard which the staff decorated with a sign "boss lady's very important clipboard " and discusses the blue pts and asks what she can help with the yellow.

My team think I am mad, they know not to touch my highlighters otherwise I am useless to them, my peers think I am mad but my discharge rate has improved and it works for me.

All I can say is there is a good reason I wear 4 pocket tops and 3 pocket bottoms because when you add in 2-3 smart phones depending on what I am covering I need them.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

Pens are essential. The Pilot G-2 is my favorite as well. I buy them often because, for some reason, my pens disappear at my work place. Not sure where they go, but they go *poof*. I keep several in my desk and a couple on my person and by the end of a week, some of them have taken off. Maybe I need to put identifiers on my pens or better yet, an alarm system.

But yes, I get report several times in a day and need to write things down quickly. There are papers to sign, too. Plus we keep a running paper tab of our meds in addition to the computer. Then, I also have an old-fashioned journal where I jot down my TTD for work and home. And so on...

Which reminds me, I need to make a shopping list...

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Specializes in ICU.

I cannot work without my 4-color Bic, I keep a spare or two in my locker

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

You seen a pen for those patients to sign those discharge papers and hopefully never come back!

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oh my gosh no way! i couldn't imagine a shift without a pen. thats insane! you are teaching a good habit, keep at it.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I come in with as many as I can round up from my car (over 5 usually)...then leave with only one that I had to beg for after misplacing the ones I brought with me. Maybe if I bought scrubs that actually fit they'd stop falling out of my pockets each time I bend over.

Speaking of pens and scrubs, am I the only one who has absolutely ruined some due to leaky black ink pens?

You probably aren't the only one. I've ruined some with Sharpies and with lipstick. (Clinique can go through the washer and still deliver beautiful color every time. Now the dryer is another story.)

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Specializes in Oncology; med/surg; geriatric; OB; CM.

Well at age 60, I AM a crusty ol' bat who has a multitude of pens on her at all times! I have a red one for when I am in charge when I get report; I have many black ones with various levels of ink (never fails-at least 1 runs out of ink during a shift); my black dry erase marker for the white boards; my red dry erase for the white boards (we use different colors for different things); a sharpie to mark what needs to be marked, a pencil AND a penlight! People know who to come to if their pen(s) crap out on them, but I will hunt you down to get it back! Same with the dry erase marker--just because I'm OCD and have 2, doesn't mean you can one permanently! And, truth be told, if there is a pen somewhere @ the beginning of my 12-hour shift that's still in the same place at the end of the shift, I assume it has been abandoned and needs a new home....my pocket! :D

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

I rarely use pens.

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Specializes in kids.
I always have a member nearby.

Say what??? LOLOL!!!

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Specializes in kids.
No, No, NO! If you were a REAL nurse, you'd know that blue is for day shift, green is for PM shift and nights writes in red.

Right????

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Lack of preparedness. When you work on the floor (or ER) with 6+ patients, you have to write notes down throughout the day to stay organized. Shoot, I keep a pen and small notepad in my purse and in my car just in case I need to write something down. I'm 28, but I don't rely on my Galaxy S8 for everything, lol.

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