Our NICU needs a new Kardex/report system

[CareForBabies]

I work in a 40 bed NICU that needs a new Kardex and a consistent method of giving report. Our current Kardex is old and usually not updated because it just doesn't work for us anymore. Our shift report is very casual and nurses just write it out on blank paper. Important information is easily missed. We would like a structured report that follows an easy but thorough kardex. Please help:redbeathe

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

Can't be of any help. Ours are always up to date and report is so easy but we're going completely paperless in March and getting rid of the Kardex. Oh, our computer program for the EMR is slow as molasses, too... as if we have the time to jack with a subpar program that stops responding often and takes at least 1-2 minutes to boot up. Can't wait!!

/vent.

[grlgid]

Our NNP's use Neo-Data and their info is nicely transferred over to our report sheets. It makes giving report so much easier since everything is there all we have to do is run down the sheet for each patient and make personal additions.

Tina

[earthcrosser]

I'm going to miss Kardexes. My hospital is getting rid of them - but since I barely learned the paper charting, it won't be too hard to switch.

Is there a reason why the Kardexes aren't updated? It can be a pain sometimes, but it's important to make sure that all the relevant information will be given to the next nurse. Sometimes stuff is missed, but it's less likely when you're looking at something a bit more official. Or maybe an active intervention sheet with important information about the patient's plan of care?

[babyNP., APRN]

What's a kardex? I've only used computer charting in nursing school and in the hospital I'm at now.

[Cambria1023]

We use computer charting and have a bedside chart in which the doctors write their orders, the kardex is kept, other info. We chart our assessments, etc on the computer. Whenever a doctor writes new orders, we sign them off and then our secretaries put in the orders and are usually the ones who update the kardex. It is our job though to look over the kardex and make sure all the information is updated and correct.

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

We use computer charting and have a bedside chart in which the doctors write their orders, the kardex is kept, other info. We chart our assessments, etc on the computer. Whenever a doctor writes new orders, we sign them off and then our secretaries put in the orders and are usually the ones who update the kardex. It is our job though to look over the kardex and make sure all the information is updated and correct.

I'd feel soooo sorry for our secretaries if they had to put in any orders. They'd have to hire about 10 of them and that'd be all they do! Stuff changes so frequently, too, for anyone but the bedside nurse to do the Kardex...which we won't use in a few weeks anyway.

[terryo]

I am also looking for a NICU Kardex if anyone can e-mail me a sample

Thank You!

[iHeartNICU]

Wow, I can't even imagine not having a kardex that is not up to date. We get an order and while we still have the chart open we update the kardex (the kardex is kept at the bedside of each baby along with their chart). We also put in our own orders so we are really the only one to see their chart which usually means that nothing gets missed because we are't relying solely on the secretaries to put things in.

Our kardex has everything on it. It starts with the baby's birth info, then has a running history of their stay thus far, then it goes through all the systems, lines, feedings, labs/xrays. We give report from our kardexes since they are always correct up to the minute.

[terryo]

Can you e-mail me a sample

[Tina1639]

We use a report sheet for shift change that is filled out each shift and updated. It starts with the history, birth date and gest. age, birth wt and current wt, recent and pertinent tests and results. It also has a place for us to check what kind of respiratory support they're on, meds, fluids/drips they're on and the total fluid volume, labs for the morning and any parent contact we've had for the shift. There's a lot of other things on there but I covered the basics. It's very thorough so that everything gets covered in shift change and the current nurse and receiving nurse sign it. We have a one tailored to intensive babies vs. intermediate babies which has more info related to discharge planning.

[NurseKerry]

We are a 52 bed, level 4 ECMO center, we have 2 clerks up front at all times, they put all our orders in and have plenty of time to do the rest of their work.