What keeps you organized?

[JenRN2011]

what do you use to keep your patients daily meds, vs, assessment... organized? do you keep seperate sheets on each patient? does your facility provide you with something that you uses. i know some nurses that have made something over the years.

thanks,

jen

[jnrsmommy]

I have a report sheet that I write all the info from the Kardex on (one sheet for five pts), and I use this sheet for change of shift report. I use different colored pens (one color for basic info; red for allergies, code status, lab draws, anything that needs to be done; a different color for the report I get). I keep a notpad in my pocket with a page designated to each pt, and I write everything on that page (assessments, vitals, pain meds, orders received, etc). This helps me when I get to sit down and chart, I have everything right in front of me in chronological order. Then anything abnormal during the shift gets written on the report sheet in black ink (back to the color coded thing I love, black being my assessments), and anything written in black is what I give in report. It's a little odd, I know, but it works great for me.

[JentheRN05, RN]

PM me and I will send it to you. Need to give me your email address in the PM.

Jen

I think mines pretty good it should help

[TrickieTam]

At my facility we use 24hour nurse report sheets in which you can list your labs, accuchecks, tube feeders, and other useful information. You can also list meds that need ordered or new dr. orders. Each med pass i start with my tube feeders since i have a total of 5, and a resident that has to be fed due to aspiration precautions. After those are done then i begin my regular med pass since these residents don't require as much care. I can also do my accuchecks at the same time because i can do those as i go along. As you work you will begin to make your own way of getting through an easier med pass. Everyone has their own way of doing their med pass.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

The following reply might seem rather repetetive, because I am simply copying and pasting it to this thread. To answer your question, my notebook keeps me organized (and sane).

I work on the subacute/rehabilitation unit at a large nursing home/rehab care center, and my workplace only gives nurses a 3-day orientation before they are cut loose to work on their own. Not surprisingly, the employee turnover rate is rather atrocious at the facility where I work.

Anyway, here is how I organize for the day. I work 16 hour shifts, from 6am to 10pm. I am normally responsible for about 15 patients. At the beginning of the shift, I'll go through the MARs and TARs with a fine tooth comb and, as I go, I will jot down the things that must be done in my notebook. My notebook is how I organize the rest of the day, and I usually won't forget to do anything. Here is how Sunday's notebook page looked (names have been changed due to HIPAA):

8-12-2007

DIABETICS, FINGERSTICKS: Agnes (BID), Agatha (AC & HS), Bill (AC & HS), Wendy (AC & HS), Rex (BID), Jack (BID), Esther (AC & HS), Margie (0600, 1200, 1800, 2400)

NEBULIZERS: Margie, Esther, Bill, Jack, Jane

WOUND TREATMENTS: Jane, Bill, John, Jack, Lillian, Rose, Lucille

IV THERAPY: Wendy (Vancomycin), Laura (Flagyl), Rex (ProcAlamine)

COUMADINS: Agnes, Agatha, John, Lucille

INJECTIONS: Agnes (lovenox), Jane (arixtra), Rex (heparin), Bill (70/30 insulin), Esther (lantus), Mary (vitamin B12 shot)

ANTIBIOTICS: Wendy (wound), Laura (C-diff), Rex (pneumonia), Agatha (MRSA)

1200, 1300, 1400 meds: Margie, June, Rose, John, Jane, Jack

1600, 1700, 1800 meds: Rose, John, Rex, Lucille, Lillian, Laura

REMINDERS: assessments due on Agatha, Jill, and Louise; restock the cart; fill all holes in the MAR; follow up on Jane's recent fall, fax all labs to Dr. Smith before I leave, order a CBC on Rex...

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Oops. . .I didn't realize this was a 2-year old thread!!! OLD THREAD ALERT!!!

[Glad2BAnurse]

great example commuter....i know its a late thread:0)