Staying organized on the floor

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How do you all do it? I'm a student nurse and I also work as a tech and let me tell ya, those pocket organizers they made us buy just don't cut it! We have PDAs which really help, but I still carry things like the PDA itself of course, a couple pens, a notepad, stray supplies, etc. in my pockets. I found those pocket organizers just went flying out of my pocket every time I sat down, and even now, depending on which scrubs I'm wearing, sometimes when I sit, the bigger items fall out too. I've seen some nurses wear "fanny packs," but honestly, I'm 20... do I really have to settle for that? ;-) Any of you have tips/tricks? At least the badge is up high, but everything else goes in the pockets and it's just horrendous.

Any other organization tips/techniques would be great as well. I thrive on being perfectly organized and well, this is whole new ballgame for control freaks, isn't it?

Thanks!!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

They have the ID holders that also fit other information in them. I use that to keep my money, ID and credit card in. I also keep important phone numbers in it such as pharmacy, nursing supervisor and fire safety information. Personally, I do wear a fanny pack-it has saved my life. I keep my PDA in it (very valuable piece of property that I have NO intention of losing), alcohol wipes, sometimes a small drug guide when I leave the PDA at home and plenty of pens. I have one sheet of paper where I write what is most important for me for the day, as it occurs. I created what I call a 'patient cheat sheet' with the room and medical record number, an area I created to write in glucose readings, vital signs, allergies, and an area on the side of 'reportable items'. I created this on my microsoft word at home and I discard of it at the end of the day. I cross out with one line what is no longer relevent (after it was charted, what the RN, doctor or pharmacist said) and it's gone by the end of the day. Sometimes, you have to create your own system.

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I've never seen one of those ID holders? Where do you get them? Thanks, Amanda

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, ER.

Pocket organizers just don't cut it for me, I had similar problems as you described. Cargo pants are the bomb for carrying all the extras. The way I organize myself, I don't carry anything that's not essential in my pockets. There are specific pens - my fav ballpoint, a fine point permanent marker, a red pen, a highlighter, and a dry erase marker. Then the nursing stuff - IV caps, alcohol wipes, flushes, and a roll of paper tape. The rest of the info is kept in a binder with all my patient info. On our floor, nurses carry the Kardex, MAR, and pain flow sheets for all their patients in a binder or clipboard. I add a flowsheet I made for myself - one for each patient with their assessment details, significant occurances, labs, pt/family concerns, and issues to be addressed. This is where I write down the things other people may write in a pocket notebook. I used to have a PDA, then my silly husband broke it. Nowadays, I'm not sure I could re-incorporate it into my practice. I've gotten used to just Googling whatever I am looking for, as there's a computer like every 5 feet. LOL

You'll develop your own system once you graduate. (How many times have you heard that already?) Seriously, though. Initially I just worked the way my preceptor worked, but knew at the outset that I would have to have a means of writing everything down in an organized way. My recall isn't so hot, so if I didn't write it down, it didn't happen.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
Pocket organizers just don't cut it for me, I had similar problems as you described. Cargo pants are the bomb for carrying all the extras. The way I organize myself, I don't carry anything that's not essential in my pockets. There are specific pens - my fav ballpoint, a fine point permanent marker, a red pen, a highlighter, and a dry erase marker. Then the nursing stuff - IV caps, alcohol wipes, flushes, and a roll of paper tape. The rest of the info is kept in a binder with all my patient info. On our floor, nurses carry the Kardex, MAR, and pain flow sheets for all their patients in a binder or clipboard. I add a flowsheet I made for myself - one for each patient with their assessment details, significant occurances, labs, pt/family concerns, and issues to be addressed. This is where I write down the things other people may write in a pocket notebook. I used to have a PDA, then my silly husband broke it. Nowadays, I'm not sure I could re-incorporate it into my practice. I've gotten used to just Googling whatever I am looking for, as there's a computer like every 5 feet. LOL

You'll develop your own system once you graduate. (How many times have you heard that already?) Seriously, though. Initially I just worked the way my preceptor worked, but knew at the outset that I would have to have a means of writing everything down in an organized way. My recall isn't so hot, so if I didn't write it down, it didn't happen.

This is me as well. 100% on the cargo pants! A pocket full of flushes! I even felt it when you said "specific pen". I think what throws my night off the most is when said pen dries out and won't write anymore! :chuckle

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg, ED.

When I worked the floor, after I got report and I knew what part of the hall I had I would:

Get one of the large basins (I re-used one with my name on it) and go to the supply room. I would put all the things I knew I would need for the night. Supplies for dressing changes, tubing for expired IV tubing, flushes, caps, etc.

Add to my bin anything that I "had a hunch" that I might need.

Go to my part of the hall and get to work. My bin stayed on my computer cart in the hall and never went in to the patients room. At the end of my shift I would return things that I didn't need to the supply room.

I dont know if this will help you, but it worked for me!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I've never seen one of those ID holders? Where do you get them? Thanks, Amanda

I purchased them in a store here in New York-they sell them everywhere. But, if there is a place where you buy discount pocketbooks and wallets, they should have them there. The ones we have here have at least three zippers to seperate items. One area is where I keep my drivers ID, credit card, ATM card and money, another is where I laminated important numbers for my job, like the pharmacy, nursing supervisor, AOD, security and fire safety information. The front of the ID holder contains my job ID so that it is being seen at all times. My fanny pack holds other essentials such as my cell phone, house keys, PDA (on occasion), alcohol wipes, syringes, pens and highlighters. I also do this because I don't have a private locker, so, my essentials stay on my body at all times, because things do grow legs.

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i too grappled with what to do about my heavy, unorganized pockets. pocket organizers didn't help me at all. after trying a few things i settled on a "hip pack" (it just sounds better than a fanny pack.. you know, more professional:chuckle).

i found a write up on these folks www.orangebayequipment.com and their products about a year ago and i went with the "er pack". it has served me well for the last year. i too had a hard time swallowing the idea, but i find it looks better than most i've seen and don't think twice about it anymore.

inside i put my pda, little bitty notebook, calipers, and a few personal items.

in the outer pocket i have a sharpie, highlighter, bandage scissors, penlight, and the cell phone that we use at work. being in the outside pocket i can grab any of these items one handed which i do often while my other hand is holding the phone or a patient, etc. it is the most organized pack of any kind that i could find, so i never have to dig through to find things.

i opted for cargo pants - on my left side i have flushes, caps for iv's - right side i have my brains and etoh swabs.

good luck finding what works for you :wink2:

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there is no absolute way to stay organized, that is the one i am learning everyday! you kinda just gotta roll with whatever. i do however attempt everyday to get report using my pcards, which are like mini profiles of patients that show recent orders from doctors, why they are in the hospital, medical record #, dob,etc. i write down iv site,if they are alert, and any things that really need to stay in my head like dressings, accuchecks, 02, restraints, surgery, procedures,or discharges, so that i can sort of prioritize my day and figure out who i need to see first. after that i look at my emar to see if there are any meds to be given right the start with so i can give them when i make my first rounds and i make sure my med cart is stocked with flushes, gauze, and the needed daily supplies. only take one pen, i noticed when i have about three or four pens in my pocket at the end of the day i only have one or none.(if you only have one, you are less likely lose it). always keep alchohol pads and a few flushes in your pocket,with a roll of tape, and some scissors. try to stay ahead so that when something throws off your routine, hopefully you will be able to handle it, and get back on track. remember, take care of your patient first!!! charting can always be caught up on, take you a plain piece of paper, like a cheat sheet and write notes as needed, i know there are some days you wont chart for the whole shift until it is time to go home and unless you have the memory of an elephant you cant remember every detail of the day. once you get out there on your own you will get your own routine, it just takes time and experience, being a fairly new nurse....well, i just take it one shift at a time and do all i can do. remember, this is no right or wrong way to stay get organized,be the best nurse you can be, and the rest will come with experience. best of luck to you!!!

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Specializes in ICU.

ummm am i the odd animal here? i put 1 pen, 1 penlight, and alcohol pads in my pocket. i put a roll of tape on my hemostats and clip it to the hem of my scrub top. the end. PDA's? for what? your mind is the perfect PDA and you rarely loose it. saline flushes i take along if i follow someone who's not known to be together. i expect things to be in the room for the care of that particular patient. it's a standard of care and just plain nice to do, not to mention efficient. do it for others and they'll do it for you. if it is a horrendous night and the room wasn't stocked the outgoing nurse should apologize for it and the oncoming nurse will know to gather some supplies that are needed before going in. this should be a rare occurrance! there is nothing that makes me more crazy then those "needy" nurses that stand at the doorway and ask you to run for things. golden rule....if it's one thing, ok now and then, if it's a list of things......get them yourself! it speaks to your own pride and organization. :banghead:

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I don't carry EVERYTHING with me. We have a cart halfway down the hall that has things like syringes, flushes, etc. Our kitchen/supply room is also halfway down the hallway. If I know I'm going to give an IVP, I get what I need before I wander down the hallway. I have a clipboard with my brains on it. In my pockets I have alcohol wipes, 2 pens, a permanent marker, carpujet, hemastats, and a pen light.

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Specializes in ICU.

i also chart my initial assessment in the patient's room. it gives me time to answer questions the patient may have, explain procedures etc. and put in the details particular to that patient (there's always something you forget to commit to memory like the size and location of an IV, now you don't have to worry about it, they are right in front of you!) it takes a little longer initially but it pays off in the end. when you get back to the desk for orders, labs, speak to the social worker, PT etc, you are able to field these without worry about charting. i take the med sheets and meds with me and administer them as i chart.

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