As a travel nurse, one of your greatest challenges is walking into a new facility and immediately navigating an unfamiliar Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Whether it’s Epic, Cerner, Meditech, or another platform, the pressure to document accurately while providing quality care can be overwhelming. Here’s how seasoned travel nurses master new EMRs quickly and confidently.

Before Your Assignment Begins

• Research the facility’s EMR platform. Once you know which system you’ll be using, tap into online resources. YouTube tutorials, vendor training websites, and travel nursing forums often contain valuable information about specific EMR platforms. You may be able to access Epic’s “Playground” or Cerner’s training modules before your start date by requesting it through your recruiter.
• Connect with fellow travelers. Reach out to nurses who have recently worked at your upcoming facility through social media groups or your staffing agency. They can share insider tips about the facility’s EMR customizations and documentation expectations. Connect with us through Avani Healthcare Staffing Facebook page and Facebook Group
• Refresh universal EMR concepts. All systems share fundamental similarities in how they handle medication administration, assessments, and care planning. Reviewing these commonalities will help you identify transferable skills between platforms.

During Orientation

• Maximize your training time. Many facilities provide abbreviated EMR training for travelers. Come prepared with specific questions and scenarios relevant to your specialty. Focus on the workflows you’ll use most frequently rather than trying to master every feature.
• Create personalized quick-reference guides. While in training, document step-by-step instructions for common tasks in your specialty. Use your phone to take screenshots of key screens (while respecting patient privacy) or create a small notebook with workflows listed in order.
• Identify superusers on your unit. These EMR-proficient staff members can provide shortcuts and unit-specific documentation expectations that formal trainers might miss. Building relationships with these colleagues early can save you countless hours of frustration.

Daily Strategies for Rapid Adaptation

• Observe efficient nurses. Watch how experienced staff navigate the system. Don’t hesitate to ask, “Can I watch how you document this?” Most permanent staff are happy to demonstrate their workflow tricks.
• Focus on mastering one new feature daily. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the entire system, target specific functionalities. Day one might be medication administration, day two admission documentation, and so on.
• Use system help resources. Most EMRs have built-in help functions, keyboard shortcuts, and command centers. Learning these shortcuts early dramatically increases your efficiency.
• Practice during downtime. If your facility offers practice environments, use them to simulate documentation for common scenarios in your specialty without affecting real patient records.

Common EMR-Specific Tips

• Epic: Look for the “Activities” tab to find specialty-specific workflows. The “Brain” feature helps organize your shift. The magnifying glass search function can quickly locate nearly any feature you need.
• Cerner: Master the “PowerForms” feature for assessments and the “Tasks” tab to manage your workflow. The “Reference Text” feature provides guidance without leaving your current screen.
• Meditech: Focus on learning the function keys (F1-F12) as they control many critical features. The “Notes” feature allows you to document once and pull information forward to multiple locations.
• Allscripts: Utilize the “Sticky Note” feature for temporary documentation and prioritize learning the customizable sidebar for quick navigation.

Remember Your Advantage

While constantly switching EMRs seems challenging, travel nurses often develop superior adaptability compared to permanent staff. This flexibility becomes a marketable skill that enhances your value to future employers.

By approaching each new EMR system methodically and leveraging the expertise around you, you’ll find yourself documenting efficiently within days rather than weeks allowing you to focus on what really matters: exceptional patient care.