[needluck]

Started a new job at a local nursing home, however, I am being made a charge nurse with 40 patients! This includes meds, treatments, assesments etc...how does one do 40 patients with accuracy and get all the paperwork done?? I think I am going to have a nervous breakdown or quit? How can I get organized qiuickly? I don't even know all my patients yet!! H E L P !!!

[HeatherLPN]

First of all, take a deep breath and relax. I'm kind of in the same position you are. When I go in, I get report, then go thru my treatment book quick, see who's on ATB therapy, and who needs full assessments. If I have to wait for report, I go ahead and get started on that. I make a list of who needs pulse ox's, vitals, ect, so that I can slip those in when I pass meds. Some treatments I do when I pass meds also, depends on interruptions and time. I also made a list of daily tasks that have to be done and go by that every night too.

The main thing is, to me anyways, is to get as much accomplished the first few hours as possible, b/c you never know what's going to happen thru the night. The past 2 nights have been really rough with alot of unexpected things going on, but I was only 15 minutes late getting out of there both days b/c I had my lists, lol. Also, it makes me feel as if I'm getting somewhere b/c I can cross things off as I go, and still know exactly what I have left to be done. That keeps my stress level down. And depending on who you work with, you can always see if another nurse can help you catch up if need be. We do that alot for each other at my facility.

And, as always, treat your aides well and they will do what they can for you and let you know right away if something isn't right with a patient. Trust their instincts, especially if you don't know your residents that well yet. I hold my aides in the highest regard and let them know that.

[needluck]

Great tips, thanks, will try that tomorrow! Hope it is a BETTER day for both of us! LOL

[HeatherLPN]

Good luck to you. Last week I picked up an extra shift for tonight, not knowing how bad the past 2 nights were going to be LOL. I'm only doing 10-6 tho, instead of my regular 12 hour shifts, so hopefully it will go fast with no major problems. I haven't been on that hall for a while, so it should be interesting

[HeatherLPN]

Also, don't flip out if you have to stay over to finish up paperwork, ect at first. Never think my shift is over at xx time, so I will leave at that time. Nothing aggravates me more than nurses who feel they will leave when the clock hits that time, regardless of what they are leaving for you to finish for them. Now and then is okay, depending on how their day went, but some will take advantage of new people. There's a difference between delegating and passing the buck, and it took me a long time to catch on to that.