Private Duty wish: computers!

Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B · Aug 26, 2015

Absolutely not. I'm not looking forward to computerized charting. I'm sure tech support on the overnight shift will be fantastic. I will either have to carry a laptop wich is not such a great idea in the neighborhoods I work in. If they keep them in the house, than I'm sure they will disappear. I don't see this as making anything better as far as charting/documentation. It looks new and exciting but Im not on board until it is proven reliable and superior.

allnurses Guide · Aug 26, 2015

I like tech, too, but 'm not sure it would really make things better in private duty. I mail my paper notes to the office and our notes are mostly assessment "check-off" boxes with a very small area for the narrative note and flow sheets for routine stuff like vent settings.

I'd like to say I would be open to computers in private duty, though so people won't say I'm an old fuddy-duddy who refuses to keep up with technology! :-)

**Elektra6, ASN, BSN, RN** · Aug 26, 2015

I like tech, too, but 'm not sure it would really make things better in private duty. I mail my paper notes to the office and our notes are mostly assessment "check-off" boxes with a very small area for the narrative note and flow sheets for routine stuff like vent settings.
Yes! I just wanted to see how other companies handle their charting. I would like that, we have 100% fill in everything notes plus check offs in the chart. I wish we had something better like check off boxes for routine care. When the company is being audited they take our narratives and scrutinize them like crazy. We always have to stay late writing long, long notes. It's frustrating.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 26, 2015

I heard one company was trailing iPad minis. Minimal narrative with time stamps. Not going well as many don't bother with real time or near realtime charting. Some pre-write narratives, others pre-fill MAR/TAR at shift start. (Always interesting if an emergency happens mid shift and the child is sent to the ED, yet all the end of shift work was done) They'd likely lose a lot of nurses to false charting...

I've learned to become more efficient in my charting. Do explanations in my opening narrative. We have many that chart the most bizarre things using first person and naming names unnecessarily. I've seen nurses white all about what the family is going, narrate a PT/OT/SLP session but write almost nothing about skilled care or patient. Never mind not even getting things correct (client has an AMT 14Fr jtube yet nurse documents patency of a MICKEY 16Fr, 3cm GB and writes meds & feeds given via GT--nearly impossible as patient had a radical esophogectomy with sub total gastrectomy. Only had a blind pouch not yet connected until the next phase reconstruction).

We have issues with missing in home copies of charts or unsupervised siblings decorating charts. I can only imagine if you set down an electronic tool to go to the bathroom or care for a vented patient, even locked

brillohead, ADN, RN · Aug 26, 2015

One of my agencies is supposed to be going to tablets kept in the patient's home.... we'll see how well that goes over.

allnurses Guide · Aug 26, 2015

Some nurse's narrative notes are an endless source of entertainment but only after you spend a lot of time trying to decipher them and give up. The tiny space allowed on ours aren't a deterrent to many people who start printing (or using cursive) smaller and smaller as they realize they're going to run out of space before they get to document what movie the patient was watching at 1630.

Poorly secured ipads I can't even imagine!

brillohead, ADN, RN · Aug 26, 2015

I'm guessing that the tablets will only have PDN-specific software on them, to deter "playing" with them (by nurses or family members).

I'm just leery of having to "text" narrative notes with an on-screen keyboard. I don't even like texting too much on my phone, and I use Swype! Having to tap out paragraphs of documentation every hour is going to be a major PITA.

allnurses Guide · Aug 27, 2015

I'm guessing that the tablets will only have PDN-specific software on them, to deter "playing" with them (by nurses or family members).
I'm just leery of having to "text" narrative notes with an on-screen keyboard. I don't even like texting too much on my phone, and I use Swype! Having to tap out paragraphs of documentation every hour is going to be a major PITA.

I think my recent reading about the Los Angeles Unified School District ipad for every student program, which predictive search for lausd ipad hilariously returns "fiasco, hack, debacle, scandal" and then oh yeah "project" was skewing my outlook.

I don't like touch-screen keyboards, either. Old-school typing does not look at the keyboard!

canigraduate · Aug 27, 2015

I'm guessing that the tablets will only have PDN-specific software on them, to deter "playing" with them (by nurses or family members).
I'm just leery of having to "text" narrative notes with an on-screen keyboard. I don't even like texting too much on my phone, and I use Swype! Having to tap out paragraphs of documentation every hour is going to be a major PITA.

iPad keyboards are readily available. You could ask to be supplied with one.

lucylight · Aug 27, 2015

We have used tablets for nearly a year now. I love it! We still do a paper mar as well though. I think there are plans for the future to go completely paperless with mar too. Adding new meds in the tablet is nice because then it goes straight to the office and can be added in immediately for the next month's mar. I hated mailing in my notes every week.

lucylight · Aug 27, 2015

Each employee has a company provided tablet or they can have it on their own device. I have young kids myself so I just make sure to keep tablet out of reach of rambunctious family members. But yes I've seen 2 year olds grab other nurses tablets when they leave them down and out in the open.