EPIC Computer Program

[al7139]

Hi,

Does anyone's hospital use the EPIC system for charting?

Our hospital is going to this system this month, and I am really interested in how other nurses feel about it. For me, it is very difficult to learn, and I feel like I will be spending more time on the computer than with my patients.

We keep hearing how much easier it will be, but right now, it doesn't seem easy at all.

I am used to hard copies of charts, and the system we use now in the computer for charting allows for a busy night where I may not look at a computer until the end of my shift. And finding things in the EPIC system is very complicated for me.

Anyone out there that can ease my anxiety?

Amy

[pincush23]

Question... cause I didn't see it in other posts...But do you guys use the focused charting aspect of EPIC "DAR" Data, Action, Response? It totally felt like I was double/triple charting I worked for a hospital with EPIC and when I wrote a DAR note with my preceptor, it felt like I was writing it in front of an English teacher...I read other notes from previous nurses that cared for the pt. and there was not much to them...Maybe a reason that I didn't care for the program much. Didn't care much for the care plan portion either. Just curious cause my hospital is getting the system soon...Thanks for all for your posts.

[CocoP]

Has anyone worked with Epic in the ICU setting? I attended a 4 hour Epic computer class that wasn't set up for ICU so I had no way of seeing how IV meds/fluids were calculated, how to enter ICU orders, what to do in a code situation. As a registry nurse I am expected to function with minimal assistance. At the end of the training I felt that I would be putting my patient and my nursing license at risk. For anyone in ICU, does the system flow smoothly after getting the hang of it?

[Tina, RN]

Oh, boy. I just attended my first session of training for EPIC. I feel totally overwhelmed! Eek! I am really hoping that it'll all "click". My concern is that I am only a per diem nurse. Since I won't be working with it every day, will it take me forever to catch on?! We get 16 hours of training all together.

Any words of encouragement are welcome! LOL

[dorty6745]

I need to acquire Epic training. Does anyone know where I can get training without being an employee? I am in California.

[pincush23]

dorty6745 said:

I need to acquire Epic training. Does anyone know where I can get training without being an employee? I am in California.

None to my knowledge. It's basically an excel format. Not that bad. Each facility has their own "tweeks" to the system. It does take some time to learn all the "bells and whistles" just as any computer system charting. If an employeer asks you about your computer experience, tell them that you are experienced with excel. Plus, you can copy and paste your assessment and make changes as needed...Good Luck!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

As a traveler/agency nurse.. I have had to learn 4 different EMR's within 1 year. Epic is by far the best and most user friendly.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

dcarriv said:

We use it where I work and I hate it. It freezes up all of the time, the entire system will crash and be down for hours. I have also found it very difficult to use. I am on a rapid response team and I find it very difficult to work on patients who are going downhill when I cant access their allergies, medical histories, meds and procedures. They do have a backup system that is view only, but we have had that crash too. There is a computer hub where they can print up everyones chart, but if we have a full hospital that can be 270 pts. When it is working, it is nice that the doctors enter their own orders and progress notes. Unfortunatly the docs have found that it is very easy to click on the wrong orders, they also c/o it system being too slow. On our version of the program if you punch in ns you will get about 500 different orders and if its just a ns bolus that you want then you have to search for it. In my opinion and a number of our other nurses and mds agree that this program will kill someone.

What a PITA! However, you're describing a system overload problem/capacity issue that IT should be working on as a priority in your facility. The Epic application itself is not the cause of your facility's problems, although I think the Epic people would have a vested interest in helping your IT department increase capacity so that the application works as designed.

ETA: My hospital is supposed to get it soon. I used it in one of my clinical rotations, and I can't wait for it to be implemented at my workplace. It would be nice to be able to see the complete picture of the patient in one application. Right now, we have to work with paper charting plus no less than three applications, and we still don't have a complete picture of the patient.

[AgentBeast, BSN, RN]

It's only as good as the IT department and the training the staff receives.

[westmar]

How true that is! We are live on an EMR and thought the system was the problem. Turns out, we had a very inexperienced implementation team, as well as inefficient IT dept. We have had to bring in corporate reps to get the service we needed and deserved.

[PediNurse3]

I used Epic when I worked in the ER and I felt like it was very user friendly and easy to navigate. I didn't appreciate it until I left that hospital and went to an organization that used a completely different program- absolutely horrible in comparison. I really liked Epic.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

so what do you do in a code""you're hear stopped beating? wait, i have to sign in first"...

[funnyliz]

We have had EPIC for about 6 months now - it's really quite nice - I do have a question about the flowsheets for Trauma centers. We are still using the paper flowsheet in addition to having to enter all our tubes/vitals/lines/meds etc into Epic. How are other centers doing this and did they develop their own flowsheet in epic? Is it ACS approved? Ideas?