24 Hour Chart Checks

On our floor, when the unit secretary enters the order, she puts a red "E" by the order. Then, when the nurse signs it, she goes into the computer and verifies that the order is there (we have computerized charts, so this is a simple as clicking on the "orders" tab; but this was a requirement before the computerization). By noting the order, the nurse is stating verifying that it is indeed in the computer.

I know the orders can pile up in the am, but by 2-3 they are usually pretty caught up. I work nights, so we don't even have a unit secretary, we just enter our own orders.

Also, part of our evening shift unit secretary's job is to do a 24 hour chart check and verify that all the orders are in the computer. The nurses do the 24 hour MAR check on nights. I have floated to other, small floors, and the night nurses do a 24 hour chart and MAR check.

Part of our night shift routine is check evey chart for orders. If there are orders, we check that they are on the MAR, Kardex and computer correctly, and then sign off at the end of the order that date and our inital. Next night if there are no new orders, we just put the newest date and initals - and so forth. It seems to work well. We have found orders that we missed on days.