[happylush]

Hello everyone! I just started my new job this week on our busy medical floor... I have worked there for a year and a half prior being a new LPN and am making the transition to RN.... I am just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to stay organized? I find it very hard to keep track of 10+ patients and all the information I have to keep track of, I run out of room on my worksheets, then when I go to give taped report I am all over the place because I can't find what I am looking for, forgot to write it down, or cant read it!!! Anyone have any suggestions? This is my first week on the floor working as an RN and today was my actual first day of teamleading on only 2 patients along with having 4 cares... just wondering how everyone else does it and any advice would be appreciated!!!! Thanks in advance!!!

[meownsmile]

With 10 patients who wouldnt be crazy. It's going to take a while for you to find your organization. As far as report goes, stick to the facts, changes in status, needs for next shift/day. I dont bother with giving all the fine details from my assessments in report unless there has been a change. The next shift is going to have to do their own assessment anyway, so dont bother giving them yours. If vitals are stable, leave it at that you dont have to give them a rundown unless the patient is trending toward being unstable.
Remember they can read from the charting if they have a question or get lost about something in report. And if nothing else, if theres a question they can call you if they need to.
Relax, you are learning and it will come. You have to give yourself a some time.

[RNPATL]

Working on a busy floor can be difficult. Time management and organization are two of the most important things.

Here is a link to a thread that might help:

http://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75192

Good luck to you.

[happylush]

Hey everyone! Well it is the start of week #3 for me getting trained in, and all I can say is " what training?" our floor has been so busy, the RN's that are SUPPOSED to be my preceptors end up having to take 4 patients themselves, which leaves no time for me to get trained in...... I am being basically thrown in and its either sink or swim..... and so far I am staying afloat, but barely!!!! One day of my training there were 14 patients on our team, and our floor was short and RN, LPN and CNA..... try that for training!!!!! Didnt happen!!!! The staffing office seems to be utilizing me as an extra person, when I shouldnt really count because I dont know enough to really be totally on my own... and its very scary!!!!! I dont know what to do.... I have tried talking with the lady in charge of the education and she said she could maybe add on another week or so of training, but it wont get any better...... the staff is trying their best to help me but its so hard when we are so busy....... and under staffed!!!! I am thinking maybe applying at a dr's office/clinic would be the better way to go.. less stressful!!!!!! Anyone have any advice, or been in a similar situation? Each day I dread going to work because I know I wont be really learning a whole lot..... and the fact that we will be too busy.... etc... its depressing!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by happylush

Hello everyone! I just started my new job this week on our busy medical floor... I have worked there for a year and a half prior being a new LPN and am making the transition to RN.... I am just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to stay organized? I find it very hard to keep track of 10+ patients and all the information I have to keep track of, I run out of room on my worksheets, then when I go to give taped report I am all over the place because I can't find what I am looking for, forgot to write it down, or cant read it!!! Anyone have any suggestions? This is my first week on the floor working as an RN and today was my actual first day of teamleading on only 2 patients along with having 4 cares... just wondering how everyone else does it and any advice would be appreciated!!!! Thanks in advance!!!

[meownsmile]

Staffing,, LOL,, they count anything that walks as staff i think. Dont take that as a insult please,, but from my experience when they say you dont count because you are on orientation, it just means they wont count you as a RN but will short you a CNA or LPN because you can do that job without supervision, you will get roped into those roles when they staff like that. Maybe not technically on paper it wont say that, but seems to mean that. Especially if you have been there before in that capacity. Stinks,, but for some reason they seem to think its ok.