Kardexes - - Are They Out Of Date?? Do You Use Them In Your Facility??

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Apr 6, 2005

I use Kardexes. I print up one for each patient so I have an accurate name, doc, admit dx, and pending orders.

I staple them all together, then I fold them in such a way that I can write in the times they have meds due. I also have a spot for whether they're diabetic, a daily wt, have special orders like DNR or Fall Precautions, and the like.

I could function without our printed Kardexes, but I'd rather not. They really are a great tool to keep me organized.

But we don't use computerized charting.

simao pt · Apr 6, 2005

Kardex??

If by Kardex you mean the paper in which you put the prescriptions, the hour and days and that you sign when you give the medication I still use it in my hospital. But it's going to end in April's 15, because then we're going to start using the computers. I'm not sure about the advantages of the computer, but I really like kardex. I know in an instant what the patient is having, who gave it, why wasn't it given, etc.. But I'm waiting to see what the computer will bring to improve.

If by kardex you didn´t mean any of this then forget what I've just said... :uhoh21:

BabyNurse513 · Apr 7, 2005

I am a new nurse (3 and half years) and I think I may have seen a Kardex when I was in nursing school but the 2 hospitals I have worked in since I graduated have used computer charting for meds.

lmajor · Apr 7, 2005

We use them at the hospital here. we also have computer charting. The kardex is a great tool to know what your patient has done for the past 24 hours, It is all of their information on a few shhets of paper. Very handy to add notes on it. (meds, wt, vitals etc.) Vey assessible to have when you give report to RN or next shift. :)

yvettern · Apr 7, 2005

arial black :rolleyes:

Does Anyone Remember The Purpose Of A Kardex??
Do You Still Use Them In The Hospital??
I'm Sure Ltc Uses Them, But I Am Interested In What Hospitals Are Doing.
Did The Advent Of Computer Charting Do Away With The Kardex??
I Need To Hear From You, Need To Hear The Pro's And Cons Of Using A Kardex.
Thanks Much.

Still using them at my hospital. However, they are never updated and could often cause problems if we don't do nurse to nurse reports. Even then, we now have to use a print-out which has much info per pt but that takes a lot of time to print out and update with everything we did all shift. Still, I think Kardexes are fine if used appropriately. At least you can ask questions....

CathRN · Apr 7, 2005

we use Kardexes in my hospital as well as computer charting. I learned both ways during clinicals, so I'm at ease using both forms. I like the Kardexes for additional information that sometimes the off going nurse may have forgotten to put on the printed out shift report or forgot to tell me.

USA987, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 7, 2005

Still use them...no one looks at them...wish they would go away! :chuckle

rnmi2004 · Apr 7, 2005

We have computer charting, but we also have papers we call the "kardex." It has the pathway & MAR's on binder rings. You can grab the Kardexes (Kardices? :chuckle ) for your group of pts & know what meds, tx's, tests, etc. are due & when. All new orders are charted on the pathway and/or MAR, so yes, it is updated regularly. I'd be lost without it!

medicrnohio, RN · Apr 7, 2005

We use Kardex's. I really don't like them much. We mostly just use them to give and tae report. They are not always updated like they should be.

alyca · Apr 7, 2005

We totally still use kardex's. Each pt has a kardex that has their diagnosis, diet, allergies, precautions, medical history, IVF ordered, weightbearing restrictions, lab orders, therapy instructions, etc on it. Each order that comes in for a pt is added to the kardex in pencil, except for meds, which are just entered into the computer chart. These are constantly being updated, and double checked on every order by 2 people to make sure that each order is added to the kardex. Old or outdated orders, especially on people who have been admitted for awhile, get erased, and sometimes we fill out a whole new kardex once one gets totally trashed by lots of erasing and rewriting of orders. When a pt goes to OR, they get a new kardex when they return with new orders. For report each shift, the nurse coming in gets the kardex for each of their patients and writes down the info on their 'brain', then goes out for verbal report from the nurse on the previous shift.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 7, 2005

Kardexes are still used, even with computer charting. You may just call them by another name. It has the daily labs due, treatments, consults, etc. It is just a print-out of what is in the computer to make your life easier that day.

Extremely important when you are responsible for the care of your patient.

The sheet where you chart your medications is different, that is usually referred to as an MAR.