Share Your Brain sheet

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.

Hello. I am a new grad looking for a way to stay organized. I want to see how your Organization/ "Brain" sheet is set up. Sharing this will be of great help. Also any checklist or documentation cheatsheets you may have. How to give report and question to ask during report for a new admission

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Actually everyone’s sheets are tailored to their own way of thinking. So just make your own. It’s easy. You want to see vitals first right? Make that section first. Next times for meds - I just put a number down but others have every number listed and will circle them. I always write my allergies at top of meds list. Any test the are outstanding - this needs a section also. A lab section (only outstanding labs of importance need to be listed). What did you feel like you forgot a lot in clinicals - list it! No one wants to have to remind us to do things!! Good luck, use common sense, stay late and help others and you will melt in!

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Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
26 minutes ago, tammymize said:

Actually everyone’s sheets are tailored to their own way of thinking. So just make your own. It’s easy. You want to see vitals first right? Make that section first. Next times for meds - I just put a number down but others have every number listed and will circle them. I always write my allergies at top of meds list. Any test the are outstanding - this needs a section also. A lab section (only outstanding labs of importance need to be listed). What did you feel like you forgot a lot in clinicals - list it! No one wants to have to remind us to do things!! Good luck, use common sense, stay late and help others and you will melt in!

Thanks i am aware that everyone’s brain sheet is different that was the point of this post. I want to see other peoples brain sheet get ideas for my own ?

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Oh and I use graph paper, I love being organized. And one thing about report. State why your patient was admitted, what you are doing to get them better and any other issues (skin, nutrition, resources etc). A wise person once told me “if you don’t know where your patient came from then you probably aren’t sure what to do with them”.... meaning - you will need to do different things for a NH patient from the skilled side that for an independent patient from home.... always know where your patient came from and never ever give a med unless you know what it is.

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Specializes in LTC.

I started my first day on med surg yesterday. I have been an lpn in long term care for 10 years and graduated with my rn in May. I am amazed at the difference. The way that I have taken report /organized my duties for all of my nursing career is not gonna cut it in this setting. So I understand the need for a " brain sheet". I found a ton of options on Pinterest actually. There are so many variations for every possible specialty. I printed a few to try out next week. Here's to hoping I can find a new way to get it done.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

I bought this recently and it’s great to help you organize your thoughts and the patients plan. It’s also really helped me organize info for giving a really good report.

Portage proRound Medical Rounds Notebook - Durable, Pocket-Sized Journal for Patient Information, Great for Medical Students, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners and More, Fits White Coat https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G741KK1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sxRHDbDQ8ENHY

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On ‎9‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 6:32 PM, Danirenee2009 said:

I started my first day on med surg yesterday. I have been an lpn in long term care for 10 years and graduated with my rn in May. I am amazed at the difference. The way that I have taken report /organized my duties for all of my nursing career is not gonna cut it in this setting. So I understand the need for a " brain sheet". I found a ton of options on Pinterest actually. There are so many variations for every possible specialty. I printed a few to try out next week. Here's to hoping I can find a new way to get it done.

Start building it from day one chic! I started mine 20 years ago. It all started with things that I couldn't remember or I was afraid I couldn't remember. some people even make sections to fill in your assessment - GI, GU, Head, Heart, Lungs...Its your brain. A couple of years from now you will see someone elses brain and think wow that looks chaotic....Just like yours used to look.

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On ‎9‎/‎19‎/‎2019 at 10:59 PM, Lovethenurse2b25 said:

Hello. I am a new grad looking for a way to stay organized. I want to see how your Organization/ "Brain" sheet is set up. Sharing this will be of great help. Also any checklist or documentation cheatsheets you may have. How to give report and question to ask during report for a new admission

Did you ever get anywhere with your brain sheet? I can upload a pic of mine if you need, I was just going to inbox you but this site wont currently let me.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

When I worked inpatient I didn't use a brain sheet on my home unit where I was very comfortable.

But when I floated to a certain understaffed and disorganized unit my brainsheet was organized by time, because time management was the biggest issue there. I had 12 rows by hour and would fill in things that had to be done in each hour, then block in things that were not time sensitive when I anticipated being less busy. As I did things I would cross them out. This was how I survived being overburdened. It was an adult psych floor, nurses had to do vitals and BG checks, and you had to find your patients because they could be anywhere. You had 8 to 12 patients. Discharges (or transfer to longer term unit) usually happened at 0900, when meds were due. And there was a bus waiting for you to discharge. It was just a very poorly run unit. My brain sheet looked like this (the numbers represent patients):

0700 - 0800 vitals 1a, 1b, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6a, 6b CIWA 2,4,5

0800 - 0900 BG and meds 2, 3a, 4, 5, discharge 6b

0900 -1000 Meds 1a, 1b, 3b, 6a

1000 - 1100 chart assessments, fall risk, open PIE note 1a, 1b, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6a,

1100-1200 prns, admission 6b, break tech, BG and insulin 2, 3a, 5

and so on to 1900.

Since my patients were all over the place, I would cross off patients as I got them and then find the stragglers or ask my tech to find them. As I was asked or told to do something, I would take out my sheet and find an hour where it could be done, then write it down. I would fall behind, but at least I knew exactly in what way I was behind and could ask my charge or a good tech for specific help. I could say "Can you get Mr. B's prn?" Instead of just saying "Please help me I'm swamped."

I have no idea if this kind of system would be helpful to you. It really depends on your unit and what you specifically need help with.

I have a very different kind of job now that allows me to really take the time I need to get a good plan of care going and address everything on it. I don't need a brain sheet. I do use checklists that are based on what I hear in team meeting in the morning, which is kind of like our version of report.

Assessing my patients is second nature to me now, but when I first started I found myself going back and forth a lot because I didn't realize what was important. Develop an assessment checklist for your specialty until you get comfortable with the stuff you should know. Every time a nurse asks you a question in report that you don't know the answer to, make sure you find out why it is important and include it in your next report. It should be based on the meds and diseases you tend to see. If you aren't working psych, I probably have no idea what you need to assess and my checklists will not be that helpful.

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Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
4 hours ago, tammymize said:

Did you ever get anywhere with your brain sheet? I can upload a pic of mine if you need, I was just going to inbox you but this site wont currently let me.

I started it but it is not finalized because i always feel as if i am missing something. I would love for you to share what you have.

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Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
On 9/22/2019 at 1:51 PM, FolksBtrippin said:

When I worked inpatient I didn't use a brain sheet on my home unit where I was very comfortable.

But when I floated to a certain understaffed and disorganized unit my brainsheet was organized by time, because time management was the biggest issue there. I had 12 rows by hour and would fill in things that had to be done in each hour, then block in things that were not time sensitive when I anticipated being less busy. As I did things I would cross them out. This was how I survived being overburdened. It was an adult psych floor, nurses had to do vitals and BG checks, and you had to find your patients because they could be anywhere. You had 8 to 12 patients. Discharges (or transfer to longer term unit) usually happened at 0900, when meds were due. And there was a bus waiting for you to discharge. It was just a very poorly run unit. My brain sheet looked like this (the numbers represent patients):

0700 - 0800 vitals 1a, 1b, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6a, 6b CIWA 2,4,5

0800 - 0900 BG and meds 2, 3a, 4, 5, discharge 6b

0900 - 1000 Meds 1a, 1b, 3b, 6a

1000 - 1100 chart assessments, fall risk, open PIE note 1a, 1b, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6a,

1100-1200 prns, admission 6b, break tech, BG and insulin 2, 3a, 5

and so on to 1900.

Since my patients were all over the place, I would cross off patients as I got them and then find the stragglers or ask my tech to find them. As I was asked or told to do something, I would take out my sheet and find an hour where it could be done, then write it down. I would fall behind, but at least I knew exactly in what way I was behind and could ask my charge or a good tech for specific help. I could say "Can you get Mr. B's prn?" Instead of just saying "Please help me I'm swamped."

I have no idea if this kind of system would be helpful to you. It really depends on your unit and what you specifically need help with.

I have a very different kind of job now that allows me to really take the time I need to get a good plan of care going and address everything on it. I don't need a brain sheet. I do use checklists that are based on what I hear in team meeting in the morning, which is kind of like our version of report.

Assessing my patients is second nature to me now, but when I first started I found myself going back and forth a lot because I didn't realize what was important. Develop an assessment checklist for your specialty until you get comfortable with the stuff you should know. Every time a nurse asks you a question in report that you don't know the answer to, make sure you find out why it is important and include it in your next report. It should be based on the meds and diseases you tend to see. If you aren't working psych, I probably have no idea what you need to assess and my checklists will not be that helpful.

Thanks for sharing. Time management is crucial for me. I often feel overwhelmed trying to remember everything as far as meds and charting. I will look into making a checklist.

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Specializes in Transplant PCU.

Good evening,

During my externship, my preceptor gave this to me to use. It really helped me get organized and manage my patients on the PCU. There are some things I would alter (some areas I need more or less space for). But, it's a great start. Hope this helps.

SBAR brain.pdf

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