MD orders via computer

[gracedRN]

OK, this may have been covered in another thread, sorry if it's repetitive.

Recently the policy at the facility in which I work has the doctors entering orders in the computer, as opposed to the paper chart.

Nurses were told, "Be extra careful checking orders!" So I have to take the computer's word for it. Scary to me.

Last week, a consulting physician even called the attending to ask if one order was correctly entered, it seemed an inappropriate order.

Does anyone else have experience with this? Does anyone else think this unsafe?

[eCCU]

Still not as fast as paper charting. I have used electronic charting for 11 going on 12 years with 5 different systems. Some were much more user friendly. And goodness don't there be a system crash.

But from my experience paper charting is a lot faster. I like computer charting because you don't have to decipher handwriting

LOL fortunately i haven't gone through a system crash at all.

Nevertheless, i prefer a few clicks and auto v/s especially in the icu where some extremes we document q5min during procedures or q15 for unstable pts! I remember when we had a pt on iabp and pressors felt like all i was doing is chart vs and document drip changes!!omg i do not wish that on anyone! Now all we do is log in 3 mouse clicks and am done! N for meds just scan barcode and pt and voila charted, drips same thing change drip rate scan pt med and pick a rate. Need to communicate with pharmacy send inbox rx instead of leaving pts room to make calls. Telephone n verbal orders are a thing of the past! I can review all my labs, imaging, procedures, 12 lead ecgs, and oh so much more!

So you see i have to disagree on favoring paper charting, but then again i work with epic and enjoy every bit of it.

[DoeRN]

LOL fortunately i haven't gone through a system crash at all.

Nevertheless, i prefer a few clicks and auto v/s especially in the icu where some extremes we document q5min during procedures or q15 for unstable pts! I remember when we had a pt on iabp and pressors felt like all i was doing is chart vs and document drip changes!!omg i do not wish that on anyone! Now all we do is log in 3 mouse clicks and am done! N for meds just scan barcode and pt and voila charted, drips same thing change drip rate scan pt med and pick a rate. Need to communicate with pharmacy send inbox rx instead of leaving pts room to make calls. Telephone n verbal orders are a thing of the past! I can review all my labs, imaging, procedures, 12 lead ecgs, and oh so much more!

So you see i have to disagree on favoring paper charting, but then again i work with epic and enjoy every bit of it.

I never said that I didn't like computer charting. I like it. Everything is available all in one place. Instead of looking at the chart and the crt for lab results and other testing. No more deciphering handwriting and other things that goes along with it. I remember my aunt who has been a nurse for over 30 years paper charting in the ER and ICU. And a hospital that I had clinicals at still paper charted in every department including the ICU and ER. I worked at a hospital PRN in the cardiac step down or CCU when needed and they had paper charting. It was sort of like a flowsheet and you had a CRT for labs or print outs of testing and lab results. I didn't spend half my shift charting on the computer away from the patient.

I like computers heck I'm getting a second degree in informatics and hopefully I can help make charting even faster for the hospital staff.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

You will be sitting in front of the computer more. More charting less patient interaction.

Now maybe I'm different since I have been doing stuff on the computer since a young age (even if it was the Apple IIC); however, Charting on the computer is, for me, way faster and easier than writing all of my charting by hand. Also, while finding a computer not being used by another staff member can be frustrating, it is significantly easier that trying to chase down a paper chart (especially when a doctor, a nursing student, a case manager, a physical therapist, and PCT are all chasing it down, writing in it, then leaving it who-knows-where).

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I love CPOE. It's better than trying to decipher a doc's handwriting or calling them a lot to clarify their handwritten orders. There are a lot of times where physicians will give us telephone or verbal orders and we can put in the orders, but they need to be cosigned by the physician. Most of the time the physicians put in their own written orders and all we have to do is initiate them :)

[wooh, BSN, RN]

You will be sitting in front of the computer more. More charting less patient interaction.

As opposed to sitting at a desk with a paper chart instead of paper interaction.

[DoeRN]

As opposed to sitting at a desk with a paper chart instead of paper interaction.

It doesn't matter you will still be away from the patient.