Patient spice chart
- Vet nurse vibes
- May 4
- 2 min read
Updated: May 7
We all use the typical "CARE" post-nominal warning sign for our fractious patients, but how can we quickly explain just how much care to take when dealing with them? We could use the infamous "+++" symbols to separate the hand-nipping chihuahua from the face-hugging bengal, but why not instead use a fun, easy to read and colourful system...
Introducing the patient spice chart! Use the appropriate spice symbol to determine just how spicy your patient is; are they extra mild, moderate or extra spicy? Display a spice explanation chart for a more detailed approach to the system, so that the team has an exact category to place their patients into.
This brings a comical element to your nursing and to your patient evaluations which is unlikely to be forgotten from your inpatient whiteboard write-ups. It may also help your clients to feel less threatened by the veterinary team when visiting their worried pet in kennels to find an angry chilli symbol hanging on their chart, rather than a big CARE sign. Some clients feel as though we treat their pet unfairly if we find them aggressive, but this light approach may reassure them that we are in fact categorising them as such, so as not to induce unnecessary stress to their beloved pet, as well as keeping ourselves safe.
We have created a spice chart that is free to download, print, and use in your practice! This comes with an explanation chart for an objective system to categorise your patients, as well as chilli symbols to place on your patients chart or kennel. Please share these far and wide to help improve patient care!
Here's another great example created by Maria SVN;
Comments