How to organize your "brains"

Nurses New Nurse

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OK, so I have read that there are different ways to organize your "brains" and I believe this means your patient information that you've received on report. I have never heard it referred to this way on the floor though. Anyway, it would be great to get some advice from the experienced RNs on how to write up the sheets.

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I have a column w/ each patients name and pertinent info.

Then I block off time in hours and fill in each hour block with things that need to be done during that hour. The sheet is like an excel spreadsheet with big boxes. I can get eight colums of 12 boxeson one 8X11 sheet of paper. I cross off as I go. It allows me to stay organzied--I write it all on there--meds, time to ambulate, time to add up i/o's, do vitals, do assessments, look up labs etc.

It helps me feel organized when I can cross things off, gives me a template to know where I have 'extra' time to do unplanned stuff, and allows me to plan ahead for my break as well. (Usually lol)

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Specializes in OB, lactation.

I have mine (for l&d) in a word file in a table form and I hone it as needed.

Mine is really a combination of an assessment form/ kardex/ report sheet with a space for notes where I put my "do not forget" list. Important things or priority things go in red ink. I use a four way clicky pen. Low priority/ extra information goes in green (like a baby or spouses name, etc.).

I have all our routine things already typed on the sheet so I can save time as much as possible -for example I have y / n so I can just circle yes or no for certain questions that we routinely ask, neg/ pos for routine labs that we always look up, etc.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Med Surg.

I have mine on the computer and make a copy as needed but one page per patient. I need to hone it a little since I am a new RN on a IMCU floor but another nurse has already gotten a copy of it and likes it

I find I need a box somewhere in the middle to write the stuff that needs to be done at 5am and I can check if off, and highlighters or colored pen for sure. also, I had to buy a 3 ring binder that they use for charting and everyone passes the divider and mars and nurses notes to the next shift but I wish I could find a pencil holder for it. For pens, etc so much in my pants pocket they feel they are falling down

I tried attaching the document but I don't think it worked

nursing report sheet.doc

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I made up a form and revised it and revised it and finally threw it out. Instead, I roughly divide one sheet up into boxes, jot down the important stuff (everyone's important stuff is different, that's why the little boxes on my forms took up so much room), and go. It's working.

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Just thought I'd add mine in case it could be helpful 

Doc12r.doc

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OHHH! I like that one! Thanks...

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Specializes in Psychiatric,QI and Informatics, Ambulato.

Looking for some "brains" that apply to a 18-24 pt, psyc unit. Anyone got any ideas or tips.

Thanks

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surg, IMCU/Tele, HH/CM.

I usually have 3-4 patients on a surgical floor.

I take 1 sheet of paper and devide it into 4 boxes (this way I can put new admits on the other side, or any notes that I need to make), putting patient name/age/room number/physician across the top. If they are a no code I will circle the room number in red.

Underneath the patient name I write allergies in red ink. Then I write their diagnosis, IV, PCA/Epidural, tubes/drains, wounds/dressings. Everything always goes in the same spot and the same order so I can find it quickly and at a glance.

At the bottom of each of the 4 boxes I block off a section. In that section I have a column where I write down med times, a column where I write down charting that needs to be addressed (which gets crossed off as I go), a column for vital signs, and a column for intake and output.

Of course, I have modified the way I organize my "brain" time and time again, I have been using this one for a while. It folds up neatly to fit in my pocket, I have never been the clipboard type.

On my floor it's not unusual for a nurse to say "Have you seen my brain?" or "Oh my gosh, I lost my brain!". WHen I first heard it I wondered what they were talking about but over time I have realized the importance of that tiny sheet of paper.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

This is the one I used:

Report Sheet (1).doc

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.
DeeSki said:
OK, so I have read that there are different ways to organize your "brains" and I believe this means your patient information that you've received on report. I have never heard it referred to this way on the floor though. Anyway, it would be great to get some advice from the experienced RNs on how to write up the sheets.

Here is the one I use. You can tweak it to your liking. Vertical and can hold info on 6 pts.

ReportSheet.doc

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Specializes in orthopaedics.

Britney,

What is the second box from the bottom for?

Thanks to everyone that took the time to post their worksheets. Gives me some great ideas

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