help with organizational skills

1. I am a new nurse I graduated in May from an ADN RN program. I am still having trouble with organizational skills and making sure I get everything done in a timely manner. My hospital is good in that our patient ratio is 7-1 but often times the aides are not very energic if you know what I mean or we are playing ward secretary in addition to our regular duties. I work nights and am regular staff so that means that often times I play charge nurse as well. Is there a book or something that someone can recomend to help with this issue
   thanks
   tq

   •  

2. 12 Comments

   Topic Closed
3. 
   Oct 17, '02

   One of my fellow nursing students put herself through school as a waitress...she was one of our most efficient workers. Her secret? She learned it as a waitress... "Full hands in, full hands out".
   
   That way you don't make extra trips...it's a place to start. I've found it very enlightening and helpful.
4. 
   Oct 17, '02

   Good Tip, Rabbit !!! I LIKE it, I LIKE it !!!
   I also like using "stickies".. use them where they can be seen at the time the things need taking care of...remove them as they are being done. I know nurses who use this method on their med carts, in their charts, etc. Little strips of paper sticking out of the charts everywhere... it works wonderfully for them..all prioritized... nice. As in anything, it takes awhile to figure out your own little routine or system that works best and most efficiently for you.. once you do.. stick with it !
5. 
   Oct 17, '02

   Yippie,
   
   I have been a nurse for 6 years and still find it helps to have a form (one I've made up) that keeps track of who my patients are, what their diagnosis is, what meds are due when, what labs, ekg's, weights, i&o's etc are due.
   
   I find this way I don't miss anything. Also, in one glance you can see when you might have a little extra time to accomplish maybe the charge nurse duties or whatever you need to do.
   
   Give it a try. If you want, I can e-mail you an example of the one I use. I have separate ones for 8 hour and 12 hour shifts. I also work night shifts.
   
   Good Luck, it will all come together for you soon.
   
   PRNnightnurse
6. 
   Oct 17, '02

   Thanks for the tips yes if you could email me an example of the form you use for 12 hour shift that would be great.
7. 
   Oct 24, '02

   I've found that it helps to make a schedule every day. I list the time on one side of the page
   0700
   0800
   0900...
   And then across the top of the page, I list my pt. names.
   M. Jones R. Smith G. Williams...
   
   Then for every hour of my shift, I list what I need to do for each pt. That way, you'll know that at 0900, you have meds for three paients due. Then when it' done, you can check the task off. I've found that taking the extra 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the shift to do this, makes my whole day flow a lot smoother.
8. 
   Nov 21, '07

   Quote from PRNnightnurse

   Yippie,
   
   I have been a nurse for 6 years and still find it helps to have a form (one I've made up) that keeps track of who my patients are, what their diagnosis is, what meds are due when, what labs, ekg's, weights, i&o's etc are due.
   
   I find this way I don't miss anything. Also, in one glance you can see when you might have a little extra time to accomplish maybe the charge nurse duties or whatever you need to do.
   
   Give it a try. If you want, I can e-mail you an example of the one I use. I have separate ones for 8 hour and 12 hour shifts. I also work night shifts.
   
   Good Luck, it will all come together for you soon.
   
   PRNnightnurse

   I would love to get a copy of that. I am a nursing student at Bellin College of Nursing. I am a senior getting ready to graduate in 6 months!!
9. 
   Dec 6, '07

   I am a nursing student and am having a hard time finding a "brain" that works for me. Would it be possible to also email me a copy of yours? I would really appreciate it.
   
   mm
10. 
    Nov 11, '08

    Hi! I just started my preceptorship course and would be interested in a copy of your organizational tool also, if you wouldn't mind I graduate in 79 days!
11. 
    Nov 13, '08

    I graduated in July and have been working since September. I work the overnight shift in a LTC/rehab facility. I am still getting done just at or a little after 7. I would love one of those forms also. My boss is putting me on 1 3-11 shift a week for more clinical experience. It has been getting better but I still need a routine to call my own.
12. 
    May 8, '09

    Quote from PRNnightnurse

    Yippie,
    
    I have been a nurse for 6 years and still find it helps to have a form (one I've made up) that keeps track of who my patients are, what their diagnosis is, what meds are due when, what labs, ekg's, weights, i&o's etc are due.
    
    I find this way I don't miss anything. Also, in one glance you can see when you might have a little extra time to accomplish maybe the charge nurse duties or whatever you need to do.
    
    Give it a try. If you want, I can e-mail you an example of the one I use. I have separate ones for 8 hour and 12 hour shifts. I also work night shifts.
    
    Good Luck, it will all come together for you soon.
    
    PRNnightnurse

    
    Do you still have the example for the 8 hour shift? I would love to see that
13. 
    Aug 29, '09

    Do you still have a copy of the 12 hour shift?????? I would really appreciate to see it
14. 
    Oct 12, '12

    Dear PRNnightnurse,
    
    I am a new nurse too searching for organizational tools to becoming a competent nurse. Would it be alright if you e-mail me a copy of one of your forms? Thank you.
    
    renee924

Must Read Topics