LittleZee

Hi all, I’m new to the ED and had a general question about your charting. We use EPIC and do focused assessments. There is an option for WDL and it’ll say what is considered “normal” or there is “exceptions” and your chart what the exceptions are. My question is, do you consider your patients subjective data when charting your physical assessment as normal? For example, a pt comes in and is complaining of 9/10 stomach pain. This pain is charted in the appropriate “Pain” section (sharp, intermittent, etc) but objectively it is WDL (bowel sounds active, non-distended, no guarding, recent normal BM). So would you still check “WDL” since you didn’t find anything objectively? Or would you put “Exceptions” and state they are complaining of pain? I’ve seen nurses do both. Another example, a patient states they feel short of breath, but your respiratory assessment is WDL (RR even, unlabored, saturating 99% room, lung sounds CTAB, NAD..) Would you chart “WDL” or “Exceptions” and comment “Pt reports SOB” but include your normal findings? Like I said, I’ve seen nurses do both, but wouldn’t every assessment be an “exception” if we included the subjective info? *This is after patients are triaged and complaints on why they came are documented This may seem dumb, but I’ve asked a couple of nurses and I don’t seem to get consistent answers. Thanks in advance!

I actually just became aware of it recently. Although I considered it, Im already on the five year plan as it is and would prefer to get a Bachelor's since I'll be in school forever. I've heard good things about Parkland though.

Can I ask what school you went to/what sort of job you were able to get? Thanks again :)

Im hoping someone can give me a bit of advice because Im sort of in a pickle. I am currently a junior, well, about to be a senior, and was accepted into two schools for this Fall 2010. I was granted re-entry to the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (I was there last spring 09) into the College of Applied Health Sciences for Community Health. Health Education and Promotion really interests me, and I really miss the university's atmosphere. Im just worried about the job prospects afterwards. However, I've been "pre-nursing" since I started college and i was accepted to Lakeview College of Nursing in Danville (after being denied at both ISU and UIC). If I attended this school, I would be commuting to Danville from Champaign which is something Im not really looking forward to. I was wondering if anyone who has been in my situation or attended either school could give me some insight? Nursing is something I know I want to do, but Im not quite sure if Im ready for it yet. I've been reading a lot about direct entry masters programs such as the ones at Depaul and Rush. If I decided to pursue a direct entry masters program, would a bachelor's in community health be a waste? Any information would be appreciated! Thank you!!!!