so i recently went from a big city, teaching hospital where i was spoiled with, among other things, the latest equipment/machines, pcas, iv team, etc...and best of all
endless pen supplies for staff. :heartbeat
at my new small, dingy, community hospital - under the same health authority as above - the hospital is old, the equipment is old, pcas are available once in a blue moon, iv teams are unheard of, and everyone hoards whatever pen they have with their lives. you leave it unattended for 5 seconds and its gone.
most of my day is hunting for stupid pens. just today i lost three! three. i have no idea why the hospital does not supply it. it's not the price of the pens i'm upset about - i could get a dozen from the dollar store for a buck - but considering how much charting we do in a shift [] i really can't afford to waste precious time looking for **** pens all day.
anyway - i hope some of you can relate to how annoying this is. i just finished a night shift and instead of enjoying my cozy bed, i'm online trying to figure out how i can stop losing my darn pens and this is what i found:
pens with attached clips
have any of ever used them? the reviews i found were that they were cheap and broke easily. i shall keep on searching though until solve this problem of mine.
The best pen would have to be the Pilot G2. You can get finepoint or med. point, they never skip, are always faithful, are comfortable to hold, just love them. I insist upon a medium point black one. I get the 6 pack, and people swipe them occasionally. I can always tell the "pen-swipers" because they use my pens, and I know. Others use the hospital pens, stick pens, bic pens and advertising pens, there are always pens around.
Oh, and once I worked in a clinic which had a cup of imprinted pens for patient check in use, and our receptionist used to wipe down those pens with alcohol each morning, so that they would be clean.... nice, huh?
Recently got a pen from a hospice -- love that one, can't find the maker of it. But other than that, I buy the Bic ecolutions black pens... slim retractable, always writes smooth!!
Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
I'm a big fan of the G2's in 1.0 point size. Most of my unit (RNs and MDs both) use small pens, like 0.5 and 0.7 so they don't usually want to steal from me. My boss has a big cup in her office of generic dollar store pens that work pretty well, so people are recommended to use those rather than steal. I'm usually one of the only nurses around with a red pen and a highlighter though, it seems. I let people "borrow" things, but I often don't get them back until days later, when I realize, "Hey, that looks like mine!".
Specializes in Adult Med-Surg, Rehab, and Ambulatory Care.
I am teased constantly at work because I label my pens (actually, everything) with my name. 3 times around the pen with those printed out sticker thingies. They are difficult to remove, and I haven't lost a pen in years.
I found a phenomena for me. If I buy a pen, I will almost always lose it, but if I get a free pen, it is mine until it dies or someone else swipes it. I love free retractable pens (I never met a lid I couldn't lose either). I carry several in my pockets, and a couple in my lunch box, plus a supply of Sharpies. You're right it IS annoying having to look for a pen.
You know, if you're running out of pens... just call your friendly neighborhood private ambulance company and see if they'd be willing to stop in and meet/greet the staff...
I'd be very surprised if they didn't know about Nurses always needing pens...
I put little stickers on my pens so I can distinguish mine from others, and rightfully claim them if someone else has one without my permission. I also keep a pack of cheapo Bic pens on hand for people to borrow, and use the good clicky comfort grip ones for myself.
"Obviously you are not addicted to pens!! Looking for the perfect pen is a lesson each Nurse learns. It must fit comfortably in your hand, must prevent hand cramping when charting and be the correct color. On occasion you find this perfect pen, when you do it's a fight to ensure it is never "borrowed" as it will probably never be returned. I personally carry 2 of my favorite pens (kept in my pockets), and a box of "give away" pens for those who never seem to have thier own. I have often seen others staring at my favorite pens as I write, I know they will take them if left unguarded. Beware the Pen Thiefs!! They are out there and are coming for yours!!!!!"
I too am addicted to pens. Like you I have a few perfect favorite pens, perfect weight, perfect balance, perfect fit, perfect color of ink -- black, perfect circumference. Unlike you I am not a nurse, but I love to write letters and notes. Sometimes I see family members eyeballing my pens -- sometimes I am paranoid, I know they covet them. I tell them don't even think about it, I will fight you to the end just like I would for a first born child.
I am in the hospital frequently and in my packed bag I always have goodies and prizes for the nurses that take care of me. I am going to add pens to my bag, not much of a thank you present I know, but maybe more appreciated than I know.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i like the uniball vision elite -- i have six or seven different colors and use them for writing letters to family and friends. i use the jetstream retractables at work.
Clearly you need to start going to more professional nursing conferences.
Unfortunately, many of them are no longer providing the pens/ drug books/ water bottles/ bags/ BSA calculators/ lanyards that were the mainstay of my supply chain. That edict limiting vender giveaways killed it.
] i really can't afford to waste precious time looking for **** pens all day.
*LadyJane*
278 Posts
The best pen would have to be the Pilot G2. You can get finepoint or med. point, they never skip, are always faithful, are comfortable to hold, just love them. I insist upon a medium point black one. I get the 6 pack, and people swipe them occasionally. I can always tell the "pen-swipers" because they use my pens, and I know. Others use the hospital pens, stick pens, bic pens and advertising pens, there are always pens around.
Oh, and once I worked in a clinic which had a cup of imprinted pens for patient check in use, and our receptionist used to wipe down those pens with alcohol each morning, so that they would be clean.... nice, huh?