nursing clipboard - what would you want on it?

Grace Oz · Jan 29, 2008

How 'bout a little sign which reads; "G'day mate! Welcome to your new day" :)

You know I'm kidding, of course! lol

I fully appreciate the clipboard will be for our mates "up/over!" :)

Good luck with this project! :)

prmenrs, RN · Jan 30, 2008

I confess that, personally, I really hate clipboards in general. I'm left-handed, when I "crank" my hand to write, the clipboard gets in the way. So, I almost always take things off the clipboard to work on them, or turn it upside down. Very cumbersome; they drive me nuts.

BUT. They're used everywhere, so---I just deal w/it. As far as putting info on it, great. Unless you're in a specialty area, (like NICU), most of it is a waste of time because it's almost always gen'lized adult stuff. A calculator is very useful, and we have them on our clipboards (courtesy of a formula company--our hospital is full of cheapskates). A clock would break down fairly fast, pens run out of ink if they work even 1/2 way decent, which they usually don't.

Keep it simple.

hikernurse · Jan 30, 2008

I confess that, personally, I really hate clipboards in general. I'm left-handed, when I "crank" my hand to write, the clipboard gets in the way. So, I almost always take things off the clipboard to work on them, or turn it upside down. Very cumbersome; they drive me nuts.
BUT. They're used everywhere, so---I just deal w/it. As far as putting info on it, great. Unless you're in a specialty area, (like NICU), most of it is a waste of time because it's almost always gen'lized adult stuff. A calculator is very useful, and we have them on our clipboards (courtesy of a formula company--our hospital is full of cheapskates). A clock would break down fairly fast, pens run out of ink if they work even 1/2 way decent, which they usually don't.
Keep it simple.

Good points. What if the clipboard had replaceable parts--like pens, clock (a 24 hour one, of course :))? And the pen definitely should have replaceable ink. I'm always losing mine and I'd like a place to write my name and maybe in bright colors so hopefully I'd remember to stop forgetting where I put it . Maybe a place to put a little flashlight.

You know the big white 3 ring binders that have a plastic front that you can put a paper in that shows what's in the binder? Something like that would be nice so you could personalize info you need. Of course, it would need to be sturdier. I hope this description makes sense :bugeyes: .

Common lab values, arterial blood gases--not my strong suit , I work in the NICU and would love a chart that listed common drugs and their compatability with TPN, but that might end up being a pretty big clipboard . How about a celsius (sp?) to farenheit (sp? Sheesh, I need a spell checker) conversion chart.

Insulin info--onset, peak and duration for each one. Pupil gauge size chart.

These would work well for adults, if you're interested in doing one for peds, I'd have more suggestions :).

Great idea, Brian. I'd buy one.

Brian, ASN, RN · Feb 5, 2008

Thanks for the feedback, I'd love to hear from more allnurses.com members!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Feb 5, 2008

Code drugs compatibility with each other, and with common IV fluids- a chart would work.

Pupil sizes, glasgow coma, mini mental status test steps.

On the back, a faces pain scale, this would need to be in color.

If you have extra space you could put a phone numbers section for places like lab, dietary, Xray, and leave a spot for each nurse to fill in her own extension numbers with a Sharpie. Give us some extra lines to add our own too.

Can they make a clipboard with two half sized clips on the top instead of one big clip, so we can flag information to follow up on, and keep it seperate from the rest of the mess?

Tait, MSN, RN · Feb 5, 2008

I used to use a clipboard with all sorts of "dummy" tips that I made up as I found out something new (ie. recalibrating an art line, setting up a blood transfusion).

At my new hospital, where the patient summaries are much more substantial (ie 7-10 pages) I use a patient chart I purchased from Carsten's for $30 with blank chart tabs.

I prefer that over a clipboard, but it is great idea none the less!

Tait

Indy, LPN, LVN · Feb 5, 2008

Calculators put on clipboards always, always break. So no on the calculator! Nothing worse than a nice piece of equipment ruined due to broken parts. However I'd like to see some common drug/drip/math formulas on there somewhere. Like for drip rates, etc. Simple stuff that we can use whether or not we have a calculator.

An inches and centimeter ruler up the side.

I like the idea about a thing your pen can clip into even if it don't have a clippy thing on the pen itself.

Small little reminder of the 5 rights.

Instead of a whole chart of compatibility, maybe an incompatibility chart? Stuff you don't ever put together? Would that be smaller?

On the side that'll be under the paper, maybe a little reminder that the shift'll be over eventually.

Little chart for injections... IM, SC, etc. showing where and how much you can put in the syringe.

Maybe a little insulin chart showing the common types and the peak effect/onset/duration of each. I'm always having to look that up 'cause I forget NPH every time.

If you're gonna put a little minimental status thing in there, be sure and put a CIWA scale on it too!