Getting Your Charting Done On Time

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14 minutes ago
3 min read

If you’re a nurse, you already know the struggle: balancing hands-on patient care with an ever-growing pile of documentation. One minute, you're assessing a new admission. The next, you're being pulled to answer a call light, and somehow, your charting is still wide open and untouched. Sound familiar? Nurses spend an average of 40% of their shift documenting care.

Charting is a non-negotiable part of nursing, but it doesn’t have to consume your entire shift (or worse, your break). Let’s talk about realistic ways to stay on top of documentation so you can chart smarter, not harder.

Getting Your Charting Done On Time

1. Chart in Real Time (or As Close As You Can)

This one’s a classic for a reason. The closer you document to the moment an event happens, the more accurate your note will be, and the less likely you are to forget a critical detail.

We get it: real-time charting isn’t always possible in the middle of chaos. But when you can squeeze in even a few quick notes between tasks, you’re setting yourself up for less stress later.

Try:

Charting right after vitals instead of waiting until the end of the shift
Using quick-note features on your facility’s EMR
Keeping a small notepad or using your phone’s secure note app (if allowed) for quick reminders

2. Build a Routine That Works For You

Just like you develop a rhythm with patient care, the same can apply to your documentation habits. Think about your workflow. Is there a consistent window when things are quieter? Can you schedule mini charting breaks?

For example:

Chart vitals at the top of the hour
Jot down quick progress notes after rounds
Set a goal to complete one patient’s note before moving to the next

Small habits like these can create a routine that keeps you from ending your shift buried in paperwork.

3. Use Templates and Shortcuts

If your EMR allows templates, use them. Pre-built templates save time and help ensure consistency across your notes. This is especially useful for standard assessments like head-to-toe exams or wound care documentation.

You can also build your own text shortcuts for repetitive phrases (if your charting system supports it). Instead of typing “Patient tolerated procedure well with no signs of distress” 20 times, a simple shortcut can auto-fill the entire sentence.

Thousands of nurses use NurseMagic™ to write and structure their notes. You speak or type in your observations, and the tool generates a professional, complete note in seconds. HIPAA-compliant and ready for review.

📊 Why it matters: According to the American Nurses Association, almost two-thirds of nurses (62%) experience burnout. It's especially common among younger nurses, with 69% of nurses under 25 reporting burnout, which includes emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment. Tools that reduce charting time directly support nurse well-being.

4. Prioritize What Needs to Be Charted Now

Not every detail has to be written immediately. Learn to triage your documentation just like you triage patient care. Focus on time-sensitive notes, like medication administration, patient declines, or admissions/discharges, first.

Routine updates or less urgent notes can be slotted in during a quieter moment. The key is knowing what will come back to haunt you if left unfinished.

Ask yourself:

Is this tied to a medication or intervention I just performed?
Will someone else need this information to care for the patient in the next hour?
Could this impact reimbursement or compliance?

If the answer is yes, chart it sooner rather than later.

5. Stop Aiming for Perfection

Aim for clarity and accuracy, not lengthy essays. Your goal is to communicate the story of the shift in a way that supports care continuity, not write a novel.

Use objective language, keep it patient-centered, and don’t overthink it. When in doubt, remember: if it wasn’t charted, it wasn’t done, but you also don’t need to chart things that didn’t happen.

Final Thoughts

Charting doesn’t have to be the part of your shift that drains you the most. With minor changes to your habits, innovative tools, and realistic expectations, you can stay ahead of your notes and clock out on time (most days, at least).

Your time is too valuable to be spent chasing charts hours after your last round. You became a nurse to take care of people, not just documentation. And if NurseMagic™ can help you get it done faster and better? Even better.