Nurses and their pens

Published

nursing-pens-running-out.jpg.be919602e99c5d1ad41826a424f44a12.jpg

You know how you have that one favorite pen that fits just right in your hand and writes so smoothly? You get very attached to it....and then, much to your dismay it seems to grow legs and disappears. Be prepared by stocking up so you'll always have a backup.

Ever since banks started having free pens- I get new ones weekly. Some are surprisingly nice clickers and i don't mind loosing or letting a really sick pt keep- I don't want that one back in my hands or pocket.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pediatrics; PICU; NICU.
Another fan of Pentel Energel 0.5 mm in black! I label my pens with my name :)

I recently discovered that Amazon carries refills for these so I don't have to keep buying new pens at the store. A box of 12 refills on Amazon costs less than buying 2 packages of 3 pens each at the store.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Addictions, psych, corrections, transfers.

When I first became a nurse I would lose all of my, at least 5 pens within the first 4 hours of my shift because people kept stealing them. This is embarrassing, but I actually stared labeling all my pens with "stolen from Angel" on them. My supervisor, who was awesome, razzed me about it all the time. Guess what though, I barely ever lost my pens. I actually had one make it to another unit and someone came and gave it back to me. So, HA! I don't label my pens anymore, now that I have a better habit of putting them back in my pocket every time. I really wonder if there is some pen sanctuary where all the pens go when they disappear. Seriously, where do they go? We need to fund research for this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I work with a few nurses that have very pricy pens for their personal use, and a crappy pen for pt use. We are on a paper chart system so I go through pens like noones business. Therefore, I usewhatever pens the ambulance company brings!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
I used to buy those multi-color pens where you can click one button for black, another for green, etc. All with the sincere intent that it'll make me all super-organized and stuff, with my brain sheet all color coded with PRNs in red, accucheck in green, labs in blue and all that.

But.... at the end of the shift, despite all my good intentions, my brain sheet is still a hot mess with stuff scrawled all over it with whatever color I happened to click at that moment.... my dreams of color-coded organization dashed again.

So I quit buying the multi-color click pens, cause it was too depressing.

I'd use up most of the blue and all of the black ink....and have six pens with only red and green inks left. Couldn't bear to just throw them away, so I put 'em in the grand-daughters' "Toy" Box.

Remember when different shifts were mandated to use different , specific colors for charting? Usually blue or black for days, green for evenings and red for nights.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
When I first became a nurse I would lose all of my, at least 5 pens within the first 4 hours of my shift because people kept stealing them. This is embarrassing, but I actually stared labeling all my pens with "stolen from Angel" on them. My supervisor, who was awesome, razzed me about it all the time. Guess what though, I barely ever lost my pens. I actually had one make it to another unit and someone came and gave it back to me. So, HA! I don't label my pens anymore, now that I have a better habit of putting them back in my pocket every time. I really wonder if there is some pen sanctuary where all the pens go when they disappear. Seriously, where do they go? We need to fund research for this.

Someone could pay me for the research, and I'd gladly take it, but I can tell you the truth of it quite simply. Pens, socks, and clothes hangers go to an alternate plane of existence where 'The Borrowers' live and since the Borrowers are only about 6 inches tall, said objects are used in numerous building and construction projects.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgery.

I am a stealer at times.

You know what really confuses me? I literally start off with a highlighter, two sharpies, three or four pens, and a dry erase marker in my pockets. After a 12 hour shift, I'll be lucky to have my highlighter and maybe two pens left. How the heck does that happen?!

Oh ohh, even worse?! When someone asks to borrow a pen and you hesitate, but give it to them but keep tabs on it. And later when you ask them for it back, they act like they have no clue what you're talking about and/or give it back after they "remember".

:banghead::banghead: the worst!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiovascular.

I just ordered a 12 pack off of Amazon of my favorite pens in the whole world. Pilot AcroBall PureWhite, fine point. THEY ARE AMAZING. Usually they're $5-6 for 3-5 pens at Target or Walmart... I just found a 12 pack on amazon for $4.99!!! I hit the lottery. I may splurge and buy 10 boxes, that should last me a while... ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

As I used to do with a borrowed cigt lighter, I also do with a borrowed pen: Stand beside said borrower and the very second they are done with it, I have my hand out to have it returned to me. Promptly.​

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I started think about that. I used to love pencils. No reason I have to use a pen for notes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Years ago my sister got me some "personalized" pens with different ad slogans on them. I still laugh thinking about the reaction from the doctor who stole one and later realized it said "Sex addiction treatment--from perv to perfect in just 10 days"

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is my pen

There are many like it

But this one is mine

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion