Tools nurses use to stay organized

[tryingmybest1]

I am in my first semester of nursing and I have to research tools to maximize organization in nursing. After spending some time on the research, all I have come up with are various types of report sheets, different ways of writing down patient information and the use of SBAR. What are some other tools that nurses actually use to help them stay organized?

[peachy11]

I have found that report sheets that go by system work great for me.

Example:

Neuro

CV

Resp

GI/GU

Etc.

[JBudd, MSN]

Back when I was in Medsurg, I made a grid, with hours across the top, and room numbers of my patients down the side.

I put in the times for VS, po/IV/IM meds, dressing changes, tests due, etc., for each patient under the hour it was due. It let me see how busy I would be at any given hour, and made sure I didn't miss any meds that were scheduled at odd times. If I was going to have a huge number of meds to give at a certain time, I knew to start early.

It also gave me a space to scribble in notes, so that when I sat down to chart later, I had an idea about what times various things had happened (I have a terrible time sense). When all the scheduled stuff was in, then I added stuff that wasn't so time constrained, in time slots that weren't so busy. That way I never felt overwhelmed with all the things waiting to be done, I knew when I planned to get them done.

I printed them out from my computer, with standard things already typed in, such as the times for routine VS; then kept copies in my locker.