Nurse organization is essential for patient safety.
At my first clinical rotations as a nursing student, I was so in awe of how nurses were able to remember so much information. It is hard to explain to a non-medical person how much data nurses have to remember unless you see it or experience it first hand.
I saw my first nursing brain sheet during my first pediatric ICU rotation. The nurse I was working with was very professional when working with her patients and their families. She seemed very busy, but not overly stressed, which was impressive considering the high acuity and age of her patient population.
That was also the first time a nurse explained how to keep a patient’s medical information – using a nurse’s brain sheet – organized in a way that made sense.
These days, hospitals are mostly paperless and use interactive computer systems – such as EPIC – to chart patient information. Computer charting software is essential so that patients’ medical information is in one place. Also, there is less paperwork to get lost, there is no messy handwriting to decipher, and the patient’s information can be shared among all ancillary staff: doctors, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, case managers, etcetera.
But even with substantial technological advances in paperless charting, it is still beneficial for nurses to keep essential information at their fingertips. This is where a nursing report sheet comes to play.
A nurse report sheet, also referred to as a nursing brain sheet, is a piece of paper that contains organized information on your patients. The sheets will look differently depending on what specialty you work in at the hospital.
Some of the information on a nursing brain sheet includes history, diagnosis, medications, allergies, DNR status, lab values, NPO status, family phone numbers, and any other patient care notes you need to remember during your shift.
Many nurses get used to using a particular nursing report sheet early in their careers – and then they keep using it throughout their entire careers no matter what specialty they move into. Although different hospital specialties focus on specific patient information, and you may want to use one that is specific to your specific patient population.
For example, a neuro nurse who cares primarily for patients with traumatic brain injuries will have a different brain sheet then a cardiac ICU nurse. Each patient population focuses on a different organs, lab values, medications, treatments, and usually have different benchmarks that they strive for during each shift.
Here are the top 5 best nursing report sheets under $10:
If you are looking for a nurse assessment notebook, home health nurse notebook, hospice nurse notebook, little notebook for nurses, or registered nurse notebook, this might be a great fit for you.
This notebook features:
Background Information
Vital Signs
IV access and Drips
Neuro
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
Gastrointestinal
Urinary
Labs and Tests
The notebook is 7X10, with100 pages white paper, and boxed prompts for each system.
This cute nurses report assessment sheets notebook is just what you need at the beginning of another LONG 12 or 8 hours of feeling like a “Zombie.” This nurse inspired notebook is great for any RN, LPN working in the medical field.
This cute nurses report assessment sheets notebook is just what you need at the beginning of another LONG 12 or 8 hours of feeling like a “Zombie.” This nurse inspired notebook is great for any RN, LPN working in the medical field.
This cute nurses report assessment sheets notebook is just what you need at the beginning of another LONG 12 or 8 hours of feeling like a “Zombie.” This nurse inspired notebook is great for any RN, LPN working in the medical field.
Being a nurse or a mom is hard work in and of itself. Add the two together and you have one incredibly hard-working, compassionate, multitasking superhero with skills that can save lives.
This holiday season why not give gifts that recognize both talents? The one that is raising children to be strong, capable adults and the one selflessly helping total strangers. After all, there is a fair chance that many nurse moms are not being appreciated or recognized for the dedication and hard work they put in, day after day.
The motherhood/nurse combination is a challenging balance. Next time you run into a nurse mom who looks a little tired, know there is a good chance she hasn’t slept in a week. And give her a high-five.
We hope you enjoy your holiday season and spend lots of quality time with your loved ones!
*This post about gifts for nurse moms contains affiliate links. You can find our disclosure page here.
I have a few favorite nurse essentials that I keep with me each day I go to work.
I am a registered nurse who has worked in several departments in the hospital setting taking care of ER, Med Surg, and ICU patients. As a result, I have seen it all and then some. And I still see new things that shock me every day.
I created this list of my favorite essentials I use as a nurse to help other nurses keep their professional nurse game on point.
(This post contains affiliate links. You can find my disclosure page here.)
I bought a 3M Littmann Classic in nursing school, and I have been using it ever since. They are available in many different colors and have a “non-chill” rim, so you don’t shock your patients with a cold stethoscope. Whether you are trying to obtain a manual blood pressure or listening to lung sounds, every nurse needs to have a stethoscope.
Keeping your stethoscope around your neck can get in the way sometimes. I love the Koala-Qlip stethoscope holder because it attaches firmly to my scrubs and it takes the weight of the stethoscope off my neck.
Nikes are my favorite shoes to wear for 12-hour shifts when I know I’m going to be on my feet all day long. Wearing sturdy, no-slip shoes that help cushion your feet during 12-hour shifts is an absolute must!
Compression stockings are often overlooked as a way to prevent some of the chronic issues that come from working in a profession where you are on your feet for such long hours. Wearing compression socks helps to prevent varicose veins, improve venous blood flow, decrease the risk of blood clots, and decrease swelling of the ankles and feet. I have found that compression socks with 20-30mmHg are the right compression strength for me as a nurse.
At work, I use the Apple Watch as a stopwatch, a timer, and as an alarm to remind myself of tasks I might forget when my shift gets crazy busy. I can also receive and send text messages on it without having to carry my cell phone with me.
But my favorite thing about the Apple Watch is that it records how much I stand, exercise, and move throughout my shift (it breaks them down into colorful rings) and tells me how many total steps I get in a shift. My record so far is 22,000 steps during a single shift!
Comfortable under scrub t-shirts are great because it can get cold in the hospital. This brand is especially great because they have thumb holes in the sleeves. I have several so that I always have a clean one to put on under my scrubs.
As a nurse and mom, I start my days very early, usually by 0530. And then I’m usually on the road to get to work no later than 0600. Which doesn’t leave a lot of time to sit for coffee. I have used the same Contigo coffee mug for over a year, and it is still in great condition. It is 20 oz, is stainless and has a lockable lid that is leak proof. Best of all, it keeps my coffee hot for up to 7 hours!
My Hydro Cell Water bottle is another item I have with me at all times. It is 32 oz and has a leak-proof wide mouth lid. Nurses often forget to drink enough water during busy 12-hour shifts, but having this water bottle helps me stay hydrated.
I have this crossbody bag, which is technically not a bag that is just for nurses. But I love the design. I use it to hold my nursing badge, stethoscope, water bottle, coffee mug, breast pump, pens, and all work-related paperwork that I need.
Making my lunch everyday has several benefits. I eat healthier, I don’t reach for junk that is in the break room because I pack my healthy snacks, and I save a lot of money. I’m also a foodie, and hospital food just isn’t my cup of tea. So I pack my lunch in my favorite lunch bag every evening before my shifts, and I’m good to go.
The Raptor Shears look like a fancy pair of scissors. But these functional and handy shears are 6 tools wrapped into one:
medical shears
strap cutter
ring cutter
ruler
oxygen tank wrench
carbide glass breaker
Many nurses I work with in the emergency room have the Raptor Shears and we use them frequently in emergency situations. You can hook it to a belt or secure it using the pocket clip. It also has a 25-year limited warranty and will last you throughout your nursing career or longer. They also make a great nursing gift for a new graduate!
These retractable four-color pens are great in case you need something to stand out in your work notes. Or use different colors for different patients when taking report. These pens are also great for color-coding notes and flashcards for when you are studying for certifications! I always have a few in my work bag and one on me while I am at work
