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Discussion

Older RN

I'm 56 working in an acute surgical setting. I'm struggling with the ever increasing demand of real-time charting, Management is auditing faster across several topics than I can input/ update. It feels like it is more important to make the statistics and computer happy than the patients. Oh but wait, pt satisfaction is audited and rated highly too! I'm not as fast as my young coworkers, have aches and pains and an increasingly thin skin towards our manager who is like a machine spitting out emails with new requirements and data yet so far removed from the bedside. I feel burnt out, not heard, no more go-to fellow nurses because the good ones left and are replaced with new grads.  I'm their go-to person and happy to help and prevent mistakes from being made. But this cuts into the time I need to complete my charting. I'm irritated by the incessant talking about their relationship issues in our charting room, it interferes with my concentration. I thought I could stick this out till retirement but I'm not sure... and don't know who to talk to without sounding like a complainer. 
Anyone else dealing with similar issues?

Any suggestions are welcome!

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    I was an older new nurse, I was 48 when I graduated from an ADN program (60 now). My first job was at an ortho rehab so we did paper charting. Then I got the job I have now. I really struggled with charting for the first 6 months. Then they transitioned to EPIC. It was like something clicked and I discovered I had a great affinity for it. Fast forward, I have gotten my MSN in informatics. I still work on the floor because I really still like it. I also work on our Nursing informatics council, helping with optimization and new features. 

    I also am a precepter and help the new nurses, there are not so many older nurses left. I am the queen of charting by exception and try desperately try to help the new ones with charting. Our floor is ortho/trauma and there are parts of the main template that we don't need to chart. 

    I try to teach them that just because there is a spot for something, they don't need to put something there. For example, when charting pulses, if the pt has had a BKA, they don't need to chart "not accessible" when there isn't a limb there. They have already charted that the pt has an amputation, so it would make sense to leave that row blank. 

    Another is when they chart "WDL" and feel the need to add the comment "regular and unlabored" which is THE definition of "WDL" 

    Have you been able to identify areas that you might be able to streamline?  When I work the floor, I start in my pt's chart and try to hide or resolve charting that I don't need to do. I fix my education and care plans to address what the pt currently has going on (some nurses will leave OR care plans for example). 

    early I learned to do as much charting in the room when I am in there. If I am giving 0800 meds, I can chart my Is & Os while I am there, empty/assess drains, reposition extremities and take a peek at dressings. Same with noon and then afternoon med passes. I find it less distracting to chart while I am with the pt, if it appropriate, than is a nurse's station with others or the tele monitors and call lights ringing. 

    Are you using EPIC? 

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