L&D brain sheet or organizational tool

[Kimmiexo_, ADN, BSN]

I’m a new grad who just accepted a L&D position! I’m so excited and trying to prepare as best I can. In nursing school, brain sheets were my lifeline. I was wondering if anybody has an L&D brain sheet that they’d like to share or any organizational tools! Tips are also greatly appreciated ☺️

[deafnurseintx]

We have a kardex that gets updated and passed along from shift to shift or unit to unit. Otherwise, I use the actual paper strip as my brain.

And I agree ... when I used to work med-surg, telemetry, and even nursery/postpartum, the brain was my lifesaver. But the strip works perfectly for me now. When I'm in the room, I just write a little note for any meds given, new pitocin dose, cervical check, rupture of membranes, doc in the room, legs up in stirrups... it's quite easy.

[AZBlueBell]

My brain sheet likely wouldn’t work for you as it is specific to what I need to chart each shift per policy. On one sheet of paper I have 4 brains (will last me two shifts). So basically 1 pt per quarter sheet. I have a checklist of things I need to chart such as nursing handoff, allergies, fall risk, suicide screening, 2 assessments, etc. then on the other side of my quarter sheet I have spots for VS, pit, position where I just write my next due time (depending on pt, I may do VS q4hr or more often, so I just write my next due time). Then in the bottom of the quarter sheet I have a box where I write random notes. For instance, I’d i talk to a doc and need to chart a notification I’ll write “notify <time>” and then erase or cross off when I chart it. After my mom delivers I write down my fundal check times and check off as I go. If she’s on abx for GBS, I write that and the due times in my box. Took me 3 months off orientation to figure out what I wanted in my brain. I’d suggest you figure your own out as it will be easier to customize to your needs. And to add on what the other poster said, I do a lot of strip charting because it keeps my times for me. So I can go back on the strip and see when the provider was with us, when I started O2 or a fluid bonus etc.

[labordude, BSN, RN]

I have a one page for each patient, it's written in SBAR format and has a section at the bottom for the baby information and then postpartum things. I will attach it here. There is a lot of space for notes as well. I track as much as I possibly can with times, actions, etc.

L&DRoundingSheet1Pt-20180426.doc

[Kimmiexo_, ADN, BSN]

On 3/7/2019 at 11:24 AM, labordude said:

I have a one page for each patient, it's written in SBAR format and has a section at the bottom for the baby information and then postpartum things. I will attach it here. There is a lot of space for notes as well. I track as much as I possibly can with times, actions, etc.

L&DRoundingSheet1Pt-20180426.doc

That you so much!!! I appreciate it!