How do experienced nurses do it to memorize everything?

Tomorrow is my third day of orientation and I want to show them I can be a great nurse even though I am very new.

How do you experienced nurses remember at what time all patients were sitting, out of bed, and all information and assessments that you did to each patient without writing anything down?

At the end of the shift I see these experienced nurses just filling out all of the paper work very very fast.

Me I feel like my brain gets blocked and I think to myself at this time in military time was my patient awake, sitting etc... and this is just one patient.

Any tips or is it just that my memory is not that great? :D

30 Answers

I have been a nurse for many years, and no I don't memorize anything. I carry my report sheet with me at all times and write one word reminders with times. I call this my brain, and if I misplace it, forget it, you're not getting a very good report. So my advice is to carry a little notebook with you and develop your own shorthand. Don't rely on memory alone, you are sure to write the wrong thing for the wrong person.

Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

Every nurse I work with has a "brain" paper that has all the info needed to chart accurately, even several hours later.

As shiningstar posted, it doesn't have to be lengthy info.

Example: Norco 1230 or BR 0300 next to the pts name.

Some of us use the kardex printed out on each pt.

Some of us use pre-made brains. One of the nurses here has a link to some pretty cool forms she created.

Specializes in ER, progressive care.
NursingBro said:
Do you know where I can download those forms?

You can search "brain sheets" here on AN and you will find that a lot of users have uploaded their brain sheets as examples/for use.

I feel lost without my brain :D (pun intended). But if I have taken care of the patient for a couple of days already, I already begin to remember things about them and won't have to rely on my "brain" (sheet) as much. As for the tasks done throughout the day (patient sitting on side of bed, patient ambulating in hall, etc) I either write a quick little note on my sheet or on just any sort of scrap paper, usually paper towels LOL. So for example:

12: 300cc (emptied 300cc from urinal in rm 12)

13: Norco (patient asked for a Norco)

14: ambulated @ 2100 (and as for the other details, such as if they needed any assist or use of a walker, I just remember that in my head and chart that later)

As a PP suggested, develop your own shorthand. It doesn't have to be lengthy. Just enough as a little reminder to yourself.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

brain sheets.......here are a few.

5 Pt. Shift.doc

1 patient Float.doc

MTPMedSurg (2).doc

Report Sheet.doc

FinalGraduateShiftReport.doc

DAY SHEET 2 doc.doc

Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health, Home Care.

It has been many many years since I worked in a hospital, but my "brain" always had a place to note things done as well as a place for things to do--like ambulate x2 or wound care, etc, so that I could tick off tasks when done. You will certainly develop your own system.

Good luck!

Specializes in er,icu,pretty much all except labor and.

We use "brain sheets which must accompany us at all times . Just a few words or key words like dem 0430 increased dopamine 0800 then you can fill in all the rest!

Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I carry a clipboard with me with my patients reports on them. I've devised my own reports sheets over the years and at the end column I have a little room for notes for my charting and the next shift report. I also have some cheatsheets on equipment, IV drips, chemo stuff, IV and epidural policies.

Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.

God bless the Brain!! :up:

At the hospital I worked at, we used the kardex sheets that were printed each morning. I would add little notes such as pitting edema (pedal) greater right than left, heart murmur, etc.

I also would tape a sticky note to the back of one of the laminted cards that were on my badge. We had a few plastic cards that would be attached to our badge that had things like what RACE means for fire safety, etc. I would tape the sticky on this then draw little graph lines across, one row for each patient. Columns were used for Q4hr vitals, blood sugars, special med times I wanted to remember, etc. I called this my "little brain", and it was great because it was always clipped to me. Once a doctor asked what a patient's last vitals were and I grabbed by badge and voila! there were the vitals. Very handy. ;)

Specializes in CICU.

I take report on the census sheet listing my assignment - it already has name, DOB, MD, Dx and consults. I have a system for what info goes where in each section - diet, activity, code status, labs (abnormals only), assessment, etc.

At the bottom (if there is at least an inch of blank space) I make 4 sections (or a however many patients I have, usu not more than 5)and label one with each bed. Here I note med and BS times, and can scratch charting reminders if I don't chart something in real time. I am trying VERY HARD to chart in real time - it slows me down in the morning, but I am always glad I did it by lunch time.

My most important tool is my highlighter - I highlight things from report that I need to do or address during my shift (abnormal lab follow up, new IV, coumadin order, dressing change, which MD I need to chase down for another MD because-apparently-they-can't-call-each-other, etc)

Specializes in Gas, ICU, ACLS, PALS, BLS.

I always find it most helpful to chart as I go, that way I don't have to worry about what I did 12 hrs ago, however, I only ever worked ICU with 2 pt max, so have never taken care of 6-8 pts in a single shift

It's about experience. In due time, a lot of it will become like second nature to you. There is NO rushing it. There is only learning well, one step at a time. What I liked was looking for information related to the kinds of patients I had had during a particular week. And this was in the days before Internet. I was in the hospital or university library learning what I could. I also had some good mentors. But there is just no replacement for experience + continued learning/(over) time. Rushing it is harmful. Start with the basics in terms of assessment and safety and the nursing process. It will come in time.

I depend on my brain sheet too, but it helps to only concentrate on the abnormals. If a pt has a CBC and CMP, I don't waste brain cells worrying about a WNL CBC when I have a K+ of 2.9. The exception to this is lab values or VS that I need to know before medicating a pt. If I'm giving a pt dig or cardiac drugs, I make a mental note of their pulse and/or BP. If the pt gets warfarin, I make a mental note of their INR. I don't consciously remember or ignore any facts; my brain just seems to automatically weed out the information I don't need.

It comes with practice. Don't sweat it; at first, just write down everything you think you'll need to remember. In time, you'll find that you remembered without looking at your brain. When I first started as an RN, I was amazed at how much information everybody could remember. My head spun even when writing everything down. Now it's just second nature. You'll get there too. :)

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