[jjjoy]

Thanks for sharing!! That's great to hear!!

[nursemike]

Very interesting thread. I guess I do subscribe to some nursing superstitions. My phone always rings when I'm sterile, or gowned up for isolation. I don't dare turn my phone off beforehand, because that's just begging for a code. If I remember, I lay it where I can see the caller ID to decide whether I need to answer or can call back. I don't really believe in the curse of the Q-word, but I rarely use it, since so many of my coworkers do believe it.

I think prioritizing may come naturally to me, though, since I'm a lifelong procrastinator. My whole world is divided into what has to be done right now, and what can be put off until later. Mind you, I am not advocating this as a perfect, or even viable, system. I usually spend the first four hours of my shift falling behind, and the last eight catching up. Or the last nine. Not often, but sometimes, ten. Okay, my system sucks. Still, it's a proven fact that staying too far ahead of the game is just asking for more work.

One piece of advice I can share, however, is never, ever, even in jest, never, ever tell your NM that charting isn't so odious when you're getting time-and-a-half. Just don't do it. Ever. I'm not kidding.