Watchchild - again

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Okay, it's a gripe and I'm whiny, but here goes. We are now live with Watchchild: all of it, not just the admission part. And I didn't like it before and I really don't like it now.

I had a delivery last night so had charting from 1510 to 1612 (time of delivery) plus the recovery and baby parts. The labor and delivery was very quick, unanesthetized and therefore, absolutely no time to make the computer happy. (and I don't consider it my priority). Anyway, after the recovery was all done and I had triage assigned for my last 4, I did the charting. That was a 2 hour 15 minutes job! Thank goodness triage was empty!

I do not like having to switch screens all the time; I now have a new fear and that is of missing something really important because there's no way to spread it all out and look.

Perhaps the saddest thing about all of this is that the patients are going to feel pretty neglected when the nurse's nose is buried in a keyboard all the time, and that's what it's going to amount to.

Don't like it. Another reason I'm happy to be retiring soon, and maybe sooner than I'd originally planned!

Thanks for listening.

Specializes in Babies, peds, pain management.

We use the QS system and I think most everybody is used to it and likes it ok. Wouldn't it be so much easier if we could just "speak" and record all the info. "Vital signs-temp 98.0, hr-78, rr-18, fht's 146 with good BTB var". Of course, all the work would be in "editing" if the mike was left on. LOL! "Dr. Johnson is such a twit" etc, would not be good in a courtroom proceeding (even if true!!).

We also use Meditech, Logicare and Formfast. The big problem here is we have to chart on paper for the peds to "see" the vitals and feedings and then put them in the system as well. I hate double charting!

Merry Christmas!

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Having used meditech, Watchchild and Qs and then going for a wk to Louisiana and doing paper, I really, really like Qs. I am not a young nurse, and have been doing L and D for aover 30 yrs, but oh, my... Computer charting does take some getting use to but it is sooooo easy to adapt to your style of charting. I was always a event person, and then fill in the blanks and this works great for me. We do not chart in meditech at all except order entry at this time. Now..ask me about E-mar... esp during a crash and burn!!! Yuck!!!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

emar is simply one of the most dangerous programs in nursing today.

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emar is simply one of the most dangerous programs in nursing today.

:yeahthat: Amen! to that.

We are still troubleshooting it. I miss the paper MAR so much. EMAR is ok IF everyone does their part when the are supposed to. If not, it's a med error waiting to happen.

We use QS in our birthing unit. I like it. When L&D keeps it updated and gets the info entered in a timely fasion, it is efficient. From our screen in the nursery(ies), we can watch the labor 'board' and look up needed info. We can also look up info on a newborn before the delivery nurse returns, and start making the chart before the baby ever gets to nsy.

Of course, leaving the patient listed as 2cm all night, when she's now at 9 is not helpful. And they wonder why we never came and set up the warmer...

:uhoh3:

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Specializes in OB high rish low risk PP antepart..

It's not always going to be sodifficult. After a while it gets easier and before you know it you are 'fussing' at the computer to 'hurry'. It makes the most logical sense and is the most user friendly computer program out there. (My opinion) Have patience. Things will get better. When we started the WC process several years ago, I was one of the most vocal opposers. Couldn't even think of giving up my paper strip and doing everything on computer. Now I can't think of going back. It will get better. Hang in there

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Specializes in OB high rish low risk PP antepart..

Watchchild is a computerized charting system for L and D,NBN, and Antepartum units. I have worked with both TraceVue and Watchchild and prefer WC far and above any other system. All system swill have some learning curves and users will think that they are insurmountable, esp. those of us who were not raised in the 'puter world. Having used WC for several years now it is by far the best. Computer charting does not take away from pt care and pt contact ulesss you let it. I know of nurses who will actually push with their pt while charting on the computer. how awful is that, But if nurses are comfortable with WC and know the system they are able to perform pt care, push with their pt, and everything else required to care for the laboring pt. And at the end of the day a quick print click and all of your notes and annotations to the strip are typed out and compiled in one step. Sure eliminates the end of shift charting with a mile long strip where you go back and try to recreate a whole 12 hr shift. It's all in what you get used to. I have been to both worlds and much prefer the WC one.

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