I just finished my second clinical day and it has been a real eye opener. We were assigned our patients and told to do a skin assessment along with the ADL's. I absolutely loved the contact with my patient. He was a very pleasant man to work with. He was oriented to name and was very patient with me. I made a mistake because I forgot to use isolation precautions on him at the first. I totally missed the big red stop sign beside his door. :imbar Anyways, once the nurse came in and gave me a gentle reminder to gown up and put my mask on, all was well. :) I even noticed a new Stage I decub on his foot. He was ordered a bed crib.
Every 2 hours, though, I had to chart everything that I did. First of all, it is something that doesn't come easily to me. I can't seem to get a flow to it. It's all choppy. Second, I don't want to be sitting there charting when I could be with my patient! :rotfl: Third, it seems to take an awful lot of time. I keep wondering exactly how much time am I going to spend charting and documenting once I have more than one patient? At the rate I'm going, I will need to do a 16 hour shift to complete all of my work! :uhoh21: Ok, ok, I KNOW that I need to chart. It's a big part of my job. I just don't like it. Do you think that this might change with time?
Thanks for suggestions and the support! I'll look for the book online! I have Nursing Assessment Made Incredibly Easy and it is an excellent book, so I'm sure the Charting one will be too! :)
Every 2 hours, though, I had to chart everything that I did. First of all, it is something that doesn't come easily to me. I can't seem to get a flow to it. It's all choppy..
I have good news and bad news. Good news first. More than likely you will be working in a facility where you will not have to chart everything you do every 2 hours.
Second, I don't want to be sitting there charting when I could be with my patient! :rotfl: Third, it seems to take an awful lot of time.
Now the bad news. Depending where you end up working, you could possibly spend more time charting (and doing other non hands-on care) than directly caring for the pt. Unfortunately this includes doing the little comfort care things for your patients.
I keep wondering exactly how much time am I going to spend charting and documenting once I have more than one patient? At the rate I'm going, I will need to do a 16 hour shift to complete all of my work! :uhoh21: Ok, ok, I KNOW that I need to chart. It's a big part of my job. I just don't like it. Do you think that this might change with time?
Now more good news. As others have said, you will definitely get more efficient at charting. Practice certainly makes perfect.
I second the recommendation of the "Made Incredibly Easy" line of books. They even have a journal you can subscribe to.
And, just think, your charting will be the best way to save your butt and your future license when you go to court. So at least it's good for something.
Well, always remember that when you have a job somewhere, you get used to the charting and it all comes faster and easier!
When you're a student you have to get used to new charting and sheets every time you change clinical site. Plus you frequently only go to a site once a week so you have even less time to get used to it.
lisamc1RN, LPN
943 Posts
Thanks for suggestions and the support! I'll look for the book online! I have Nursing Assessment Made Incredibly Easy and it is an excellent book, so I'm sure the Charting one will be too! :)