Computer Charting

danaheil · Jun 20, 2006

I really like the idea of computer charting. I can type about 4 times faster than i can write anything out by hand. The problem is that our particular unit is caught in the "in between" stage. We have the ability to do all charting in the computer, but that does not happen yet. The rest of the hospital does not have computer charting so some paperwork is still required there. Also, there are some doctors that refuse to learn the computer system, so we are double charting the information they want to still be able to look at on the paper chart. I think the VA system of charting works efficiently, having recently been with DH in that particular health system. It appears to work with relatively few flaws. Some of the other VA systems and policies leave something to be desired, but the charting is top notch.

teatime623 · Jun 20, 2006

My 800 plus bed hospital is in the process of converting to computer charting. One unit at a time is slowly switching over. I'm in the float pool, so I only have to computer chart every so often when I am floated to a unit that has already started it.
I HATE it! But perhaps since I am only doing it every so often it is just hard for me to get the hang of it.
To me, it makes charting more complicated because there is so much going "in and out" of parts of the program. You have to "in" to one section for I&O, into another for nurse notes, another for vitals, another for assessment, another for nurse rounds,....ETC. It is VERY easy to forget what you have already charted or have not charted! I find it frustrating and confusing, and end up going "in and out" double checking what I charted or not.....This must be a problem, because I've noticed that some of the units have a list taped on the computers reminding nurses of all the different sections they must chart in.
Also, you can't just grab the patients clip board quickly to check what their last vital signs were, or I&0, or whatever. No, now you have to log in to the computer, pull up that patient, go into the right section, etc. Time consuming! UGH!
And you must always immediatly log out. You might be tempted to stay logged in to save time. But if you do that, someone else could go in under you and chart. I already had that happen to me. I forgot to log out and found a PCT had charted stuff under my log in on a patient!!!!!!!!
For me, the computer charting is much more time consuming than paper charting! I don't like it. But like I said, as a float nurse, I only have to do it every once in awhile. Perhaps with time and doing it consistently, it would get easier. As there seems to be "mixed views" on the floors at my hospital that have already started it. Some nurses seem to love it and others hate it.
By the way, I am leaving the hospital after 14 years for a non-traditional nursing job. Exploring various options at the moment such as private duty.

:balloons: hello,

in my hospital we are at the prossecc to start the computer based - nursing decumentation i feel good about the idea since the patient's confentaility is an issue & it has another advantage with regards to the paper work we are doing for non-sense (sometimes).

KYnightnurse · Jun 20, 2006

The biggest negative to computer charting is the time it takes to log in and wait for the screen(s) you want to pop up. I work on a floor with high pt. turnover. The average pt. stay is 3 days. It would be so much quicker to put I's and O's on paper than to pull them up in order to retrieve them.

I think you'll find there are some things you like and some things you don't.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Jun 20, 2006

You may be able to look at paper faster but without redundant scanning YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES.
MAC is the best Careview charting is by far the fasting and most logical spreadsheet based expandable system. MEDITECH is DISGRACEFUL AND DANGEROUS RN'S WILL NEED A SECRETARY JUST TO CHART AN HOUR. God forbid you have a sick ICU pt with meditech I don't know what they would do with pt's that dynamic and Ill

I totally agree! I have worked with both, and Careview is so much better. I'm currently at a facility that uses Meditech, and it's very tedious, redundant, and hard to read. If I'm not careful, I can find myself nursing the computer more than the patients at times!

Guest717236 · Jun 20, 2006

I I can find myself nursing the computer more than the patients at times!

This true. But the fact is that many years ago nursing was

not open to the idea that computers would ever be used in

nursing. Unfortunately, instead of having nurses give input,

computer softwear staff have formulated the programs.

If structured properly, its a great asset and should be

a time saver for nurses.

If you would like to read my sob story,here it is-

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/nursing-really-cutthroat-163847.html#post1697018

LilRedRN1973 · Jun 20, 2006

I love our computer charting system. I don't know the name of it; we call it the QS when referring to it. The onlyl units that use it are the critical care units/stepdown/and now peds. But we were told that in the next year or so, we will be changing to a different system that will make all our lives easier....lol! I love computer charting because having rheumatoid arthritis makes it very difficult to write with a pen and paper. I can type like nobody's business so I'm all for the computer way of doing things.

Melanie = )

littlebitonurse · Jun 20, 2006

I am from a 25 bed critical access hospital that uses Meditech and I like it. Of course, I am on the "core team" for our IT system and helped individualize the system for our hospitals use. We have developed the system slowly in each department and it drives me crazy!!! I want to just take the plunge and get it over with. During nursing school we did clinicals at another facility that had computerized nursing documentation and it sucked royally! All their staff hated it and the whole system was scrapped about 2 years ago and they are now planning to impolement Meditech also.