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?
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.
We don't keep flushes in patient rooms generally. Personally, I don't find it to be a very safe practice on a medical floor. ICU may be a different story though ...
I use a clipboard case similar to this one. I keep all my assessment sheets on the top, pens, pencils, highlighter, calipers, etc. etc. On a separate sheet I keep any particular notes that I want to report off like if a patient is due to receive PRBC--it reminds me and I check it off when it's done. I find keeping all my papers and supplies in one place really helps.
Specializes in Rehab, Neuro, Travel Nurse, Home Care.
I print out my pts mar for my shift and staple them together. (The printout already has the mr#, md name, b-day, allergies, admit date, and code status). I write on the back of the paper previous report info. On the front of the paper I write down all the things I have to do, I&O, vs, dx and isolation, just little notes to remember. At the end of the shift I throw out the sheets in confidential trash can.
After that I check to make sure my patients are alive. Then I get a plastic bag for each pt and put the next schedule meds in them (meds still in the original packet). I do this with the mar on the computer, not my sheet (in case orders have changed). Lock the plastic bags in the med cart until med pass time. Right before I pass meds I check the computer again to make sure nothing has changed. One pocket in my cargo pants has pens, flushes, ETOH pads. The other pocket has my paper and stethscope. All the inportant numbers are already in my head. I TRY my best to do my assessments on the computer right after I assessed all my patients. If I got interrupted doing my computer charting I write down on my paper where I left off at.
My uniforms have big patch pockets for supplies. How filled they get depends on where I am working.
In ICU, each room has a well stocked cart at the bedside. All the alcohol swabs, dressing supplies, IV caps, tape etc. is there.
On the floors, there might be one inconveniently located supply room which is generally as far away from my patients as possible. In these cases I do load up on supplies to save time and stay organized.
NursingAgainstdaOdds
450 Posts
We don't keep flushes in patient rooms generally. Personally, I don't find it to be a very safe practice on a medical floor. ICU may be a different story though ...