Bonus Resource #2
New Nurse Brain Sheet
Guide for New Nurses on a Busy Unit – Second Edition
Name: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
Unit: ___________________________
Shift: ☐ Days ☐ Nights
Shift Priorities
Today's Goals
High-Risk Patients
Patient 1
Room: ____________
Age: _______
Diagnosis
Code Status
☐ Full Code
☐ DNR
☐ DNI
Allergies
Isolation
☐ None
☐ Contact
☐ Droplet
☐ Airborne
☐ Other ___________________
Assessment
Neuro
Respiratory
Cardiac
GI/GU
Skin/Wounds
Pain
Mobility/Fall Risk
IV Access
☐ Peripheral
☐ PICC
☐ Central Line
Location _______________________
Oxygen
☐ Room Air
☐ Nasal Cannula
☐ Mask
Flow Rate ___________
Labs to Follow
Critical Labs
Medications Due
0600 _______________________
0900 _______________________
1200 _______________________
1400 _______________________
1700 _______________________
2100 _______________________
PRN ________________________
Treatments
☐ Dressing Change
☐ Blood Sugar
☐ Foley Care
☐ Wound Care
☐ IV Antibiotics
☐ Incentive Spirometer
☐ Other
Orders
☐ PT
☐ OT
☐ Respiratory Therapy
☐ Imaging
☐ Labs
☐ Dialysis
☐ Procedure
Notes
To-Do List
☐ Admission
☐ Discharge
☐ Education
☐ Call Provider
☐ Update Family
☐ Care Plan
☐ Charting
Notes
End of Shift
Pending
Report Notes
Repeat for Patients 2–6
Use the same layout for each additional patient.
Shift Task Checklist
Beginning of Shift
☐ Receive report
☐ Safety round
☐ Review orders
☐ Review labs
☐ Check MAR
☐ Introduce yourself
☐ Whiteboard updated
☐ Initial assessment
☐ Prioritize patients
Throughout Shift
☐ Morning medications
☐ Reassessments
☐ Charting completed
☐ Treatments completed
☐ Labs reviewed
☐ Provider notified of changes
☐ Family updated
☐ Pain reassessed
☐ Hourly rounding
☐ Toileting
☐ Repositioning
☐ Intake & Output
End of Shift
☐ Final assessments
☐ Documentation complete
☐ Orders addressed
☐ IV fluids checked
☐ Controlled substances counted
☐ Bedside report completed
☐ Patient safety verified
SBAR Notes
Situation
Background
Assessment
Recommendation
Andrea's Clinical Pearls
✓ See every patient as soon as possible after report—even a quick visual assessment can help you identify who needs immediate attention.
✓ Complete your head-to-toe assessment with your first medication pass whenever appropriate to save time and establish a baseline.
✓ Chart as you go whenever possible. Waiting until the end of the shift increases the chance of forgetting important details.
✓ Before calling a provider, gather the patient's latest vital signs, recent laboratory results, intake and output, current medications, allergies, and your assessment findings. Anticipate what orders they may request.
✓ Before leaving a patient's room, ask yourself: "Is there anything else I can do before I leave?" Clustering care reduces interruptions and improves efficiency.
✓ Never leave a patient's room without ensuring the bed is in the lowest position, the call light is within reach, and any necessary safety precautions are in place.
Copyright © 2026 Andrea Patterson, RN, MSN
AGA Clinical Development & Workforce Training, LLC