ED Cheat sheet?

[MILOBRI]

I'm a new grad working in acute care PRN, about to start working full time in another hospital's ER in a couple of weeks. As a new grad, my saving grace has been developing a cheat sheet to help me stay organized with my meds and assessments, documentation, labs, etc. I copy my cheat sheet and use it for each patient. It helps a lot when it's time to report off to the next shift, too. I'm not really sure what I'm getting into in the ER or how it's going to go, but is there anything at all that you would suggest to make my transition easier? Thanks!

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Another vote for forgetting about a brain/cheat sheet. I did 5 weeks in medsurg before transitioning down to the ER and while a brain sheet was invaluable to me on the floor, in the ER it was impractical and more hindrance than help.

You'll get used to charting on paper towels. It's a rite of passage.

[IrishErin]

You'll get used to charting on paper towels. It's a rite of passage.

I find lots of alcohol swabs with vitals written on the package in my pockets

[aachavez]

On occasion I can write a quick note on my gloved hand if I don't have anything else handy. Of course I usually toss the gloves and forget what I wrote....

[SweetMelissaRN]

When I start my shift I grab a blank piece of paper and put a pt sticker for each of the occupied rooms. Next to their name I write the CC and anything that still needs to be done. After those initial pt's, I just continue with the stickers and CC mostly so I can remember names when I walk in the room or if I need a way to scan for meds. That's about all I use for a brain sheet, if you can even call it that lol

[StVitusDanceRN]

I always carry a note pad (left over habit from previous career. Police officer) but alot of times I just end up writing on my hand ( hold over from my time on the helicopter) its there and then I transcribe it to the chart and clean the ink off of my hand with alcohol wipes.

[MelWRN]

I second this. If it wasn't for 2x2 wrappers I'd never write anything down.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

Same as StVitus... Back of my hand. An Alcohol square takes it off like a dry erase board.

[Ikikaeru]

When I first startyed one of the RNs who had been working in ER 15+ years showed me their cheat sheet, Cheif complaint , Medications , Allergies, vitals, and then a blank space for notes if needed. He didnt use it for every pt but it was easier to write it down right away and then dump it in the computer when we get a chance.

I personaly dont have a cheat sheet but I do write stuff down on a little note pad as needed.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

And let's not forget those times a code's been documented on a paper towel "i'll copy it onto the run sheet later", only to be thrown out. D'oh!

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

And let's not forget those times a code's been documented on a paper towel "i'll copy it onto the run sheet later", only to be thrown out. D'oh!

...or on the gurney sheet.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

...or on the gurney sheet.

I have definitely written EMS reports and MD orders on gurney sheets.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

My very first night in the ED: 2 mo. old infant in cardiac arrest. Everything was documented on the gurney sheet.

Interesting thing was that in my last week at work, we had a 4 mo. old in cardiac arrest. New RT came to me, upset because this was her first night in the ED and she'd never seen anything like that before.

I was the person who told her to go for a walk and come back ready to work, 2.5 years after my own experience.