THIS BOOK WAS MADE FOR YOU.

“Help- I’ve lost my brain!” Since beginning my career as a nurse, I have heard this phrase frequently, usually accompanied by a minor panic attack. But it is not the anatomical brain housed in the human skull that most nurses are referring to in this situation. It is the piece of paper that is guiding the care of their patients-the one they used to write down important details during change-of-shift report, where they had laid out a tentative schedule for the patient to cover the twelve-hour shift. And most importantly, this paper was where the nurse noted important assessment data, vital signs, and intake & output measurements.

These pesky little papers are a mainstay (and minor source of stress) for most nurses. It could come in the form of a blank card, or a crumby copy of an old copy of a template. I always preferred the blank card. Well, it was not completely blank-it had rows of squares where you could fill in the times at the top, and patient information on the bottom. I would arrive at work extra early just so that I could fill in my card (one per patient) and have it just the way I like it before starting my shift.

Organization is vital in the nursing profession. While technology has made paper charting almost completely nonexistent, many nurses still depend on the trusted pen and paper to track important tasks and assessment data while caring for patients. There is nothing more stressful than sitting down at the computer to document after a rough shift, only to find that you have lost the measly paper that contained all of the important details you needed to enter.

I am what some might call a “planner person”. I love buying a new planner every year (sometimes twice), and keeping my life organized with it. My love for planning and organization led me to the creation of the book you have in your hands now. I wanted to develop an organizer for nurses, where they were able to write down important details during report, track vital signs, events, and changes throughout the shift, and have a bird’s eye view of medication administration and other important tasks all in one place. Most importantly, I wanted nurses to have all of this right at their fingertips, without the hassle of loose paper, and without having to look at the patient’s chart multiple times.

This book contains pages (100, to be exact) for you to keep track of your patients throughout the shift. Everything is laid out in a fill-in-the-blank format, which makes taking report a breeze, and takes the guesswork out of tracking important assessment data. From the patient’s admission history, respiratory support, and intravenous access/fluids, to vital signs, assessments, and tasks, this book will help you stay organized throughout the shift. Now, take a deep breath, because instead of worrying about charting, you get to focus on providing the best patient care possible.