Technology taking over

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Feb 17, 2012

we instituted our EMR in stages. We now have the old and new systems side by side in some instances, but should be complete by April. I like it but I do not work the floor. I find that nurses are having to spend a LOT of time putting data in and it is difficult to find but we are working thru that

CompleteUnknown · Feb 17, 2012

I think there are pros and cons to both. I have two jobs; one has electronic charting and one has paper charting. While I love some parts of the computerised system, there is a 'richness' and subtlety (can't think of better ways to describe what I mean) to paper charting that isn't present in an electronic chart.

Paper charts tend to be set up in a way that is the most convenient for the staff actually doing the work and you can't say the same for electronic systems, at least not the one that's used where I work. Agree that how fast you type has little to do with it - it's trying to figure out where on earth to click (because it's so often not intuitive) and waiting for the screen to refresh.

It's not being able to easily switch back and forth between areas of the chart - if you have this section open, you have to close it before you can open another section. I find myself constantly wanting to right click and open a new tab! Electronic systems are very much a yes/no situation, there's little scope for 'maybe' or 'sometimes' unless you write comments in, you guessed it, another section. The frustration of being required to choose between a series of check boxes when none of them describe exactly what you want to say gets to me.

PMFB-RN, RN · Feb 17, 2012

I agree, the VA system is wonderful, because they got $ from our taxes. You're welcome

*** I disagree the VA is wonderful. More like hopelessly old fashioned when it come to many thing in nursing but charting especially.

Of course another way to look at it is that we all get to have jobs and blog here on Allnurses because of those veterans. Thanks to them.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Feb 18, 2012

I work in home health. My agency does everything on paper, and I HATE it! The visit team is getting tablets. I'm on the private-duty team, and electrionic charting can't come fast enough.

mpink74 · Mar 2, 2012

I wasn't sure if anyone out there is tech savvy and was panicking about the whole situation but from what I can see everyone doesn't seem to mind!

hecallsmeDuchess · Mar 2, 2012

Ours already is all electronic and I like it that way. I wouldn't know my way around paper charting...

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2012

I work in a hospital that has had Meditech for 5 years. I wish we had a better EMR, because Meditech is of the devil. It's great for finding information, but using it to chart and to put in orders sucks ass. The EMR at the hospital I just did clinicals is far worse, so I'm somewhat grateful for Meditech. It gets better with updates, which I wished were already included by default.