ICU/IMCU Charting

Specialties Critical

Published

The ICU and IMCU have less patients that on usual floors due to the critical needs of patients on these floors. How is it that even with less patients, I feel there is MORE to chart on? What are some quicker, easier, more efficient ways to chart in this area of nursing? I use Epic! Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, CVICU, Cath Lab, MICU, Endoscopy..

Epic is very user friendly, unless you are double charting. What areas are you having issues with? My hospital uses epic. So far it is my favorite charting system.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Epic has a lot of places for double charting, so where is the correct place to actually chart information? If it depends on the nurse, you could be looking all over for something whereas you chart it in another place.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, CVICU, Cath Lab, MICU, Endoscopy..

Actually, the great thing with EPIC is that your institution can personalize it according to what they want. As far as double charting not really one just has many ways available to document same thing. Example vital signs, one has like 3 different flowsheets available but they all end up in the same column. Just have to learn it then voila!.... Another good example you can access lab results from results review or chart review....very flexible

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ah...thank you! Any tips on how to use Epic as effectively as possible? Does in the room charting work quicker than if I were to return to the nurse's station?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

I have yet to see any computer charting that was as fast, easy and clear as the old paper tri-folds we used to use. You could train a nurse to use them in about half an hour and after a couple shifts of using them you could do all your charting for two sick ICU patients in about 15 min. The physicians could find what they needed fast and easy and everybody loved them.

In therory computer based charting should be better but in practice it's not. If you can't train a new nurse to use it in an hour and staff RNs are spending more than 15-20 minutes per shift per patient charting then the program sucks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, CVICU, Cath Lab, MICU, Endoscopy..
Ah...thank you! Any tips on how to use Epic as effectively as possible? Does in the room charting work quicker than if I were to return to the nurse's station?

Usually the nurses chart in the room, unless the patient interrupting them too much then they step outside. Fortunately we have computers everywhere you look. I don't know if you have smart text on your package but that helps. We do not need to type same things over and over with smart text. Also you can carry your assessment after 4 hrs if unchanged by copying and texting to a new column!....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment