White Boards

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Just wondering what you all think should be on the white boards in the patient rooms. I've read some comments who says they put years of experience on there, that sounds ridiculous. Any other things?

Thanks in advance.

Specializes in Psychiatry.
Per policy, and we are audited for this too: I understand the importance of most of that information, but writing us up for it? gimme a break!

"The beatings with continue until morale improves....":uhoh3:

Years of experience?? You've got to be kidding!! Why not write your GPA, your BMI, and your percentage body fat??

We write the nurse's name, the STNA's name, what the patient prefers to be called, the shift, date, and room # and telephone #. I really like the fact we write what the patient prefers to be called because when you have a patient whose name is pronounced, "orifice", well....I prefer to know thier nickname!! :lol2:

Pt's name or what they like to be called, RN's name, CCT name. Then there's a blank space for whatever. Sometimes phone numbers, sometimes last CBG, sometimes "hi mom we love you!" from the family... just depends. When we get an admit we quickly put weight and CBG there but it gets erased once it's charted.

Just wondering what you all think should be on the white boards in the patient rooms. I've read some comments who says they put years of experience on there, that sounds ridiculous. Any other things?

Thanks in advance.

I'm a relatively new nursing assistant, and one of my designated jobs is to fill out the white boards on my pod and help keep them updated. To me "years of experience" written on a white board serves no useful informational purpose. The day/date, patients name, nurses name, NA/CNA name, any special meds or conditions, etc. We get so busy that it's hard enough as it is just to keep the things updated with legit info - why put "fluff info" on them anyway?

Specializes in Neuro, Cardiology, ICU, Med/Surg.

It varies from patient to patient depending on needs... if pt is blind or otherwise can't read the white board, maybe something useful to caregivers may be written. But typically, I write the unit name and room number(because people may move around and not really know where they are) the date and their nurse's name (we don't have any aides on our unit). Other info as appropriate such as important phone numbers. Of course, sometimes a family member co-opts the white board and writes their own stuff on it.

I try to keep it as simple as possible, otherwise it just gets too confusing for the patient and they end up overlooking the board when there's a million things written on them. Date, room #, nurse and tech's name - that's what's usually on our boards. All the other pertinent info - what pain meds they have, activity level, etc. - are in report sheets we carry around.

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