Do you feel like you do enough?

[Sparrow23]

Hi all. New grad here and haven't been on orientation that long. I know my problem has more to do with time management and such, but I feel like I am never going to be able to provide the type of care I want to with the time I have each shift. There's always something I've missed or wasn't able to do and I am always late getting out. I don't even have that many patients yet. I have a hard time delegating to the aides because I feel like if I have the time to go find one then I have the time to perform the task at hand. I am finding a hard time doing the bare minimum, let alone devoting to my patients the time I feel they deserve. And it's all the little things. Helping them get cleaned up. Putting lotion on a pair of dry feet. Finding an extra pillow. I find myself going to do something for them and being told by others "don't worry about that." But I do worry, because I told my patients I would do something for them and then feel horrible when I cannot. I know this can also come down to staffing issues and pt ratios and all that, but is it even possible to take really excellent care of your patients? Without cutting corners? Just feeling a bit overwhelmed and am open to any advice.

Thank you.

[nursel56]

I was 100% like that! Actually, I still am! I'm pretty sure the problem will solve itself after you get a full patient load, because there literally won't be any choice in the matter.

I much preferred having 3 sicker patients to 6 more stable. Perhaps at some point you'll want to look into this type of unit. You'll get faster and more efficient, and maybe in time it won't bother you as much. But honestly, I placed a very high value on connecting with the patient, too. Best of luck to you! :)

[IHeartPeds87]

I know its difficult, and I commend you on your thinking. The very fact that you feel like "I want to give better care, how can I do it" means that you have the right mindset.

I understand completely how you feel. I felt like this as an aide. It frustrated me. I never felt like I could give my "all" to the patients because, frankly, there was too much work to do...and its all important. I mean, do you ever really give a completely "thorough" bath? You always could have done more. You could always, like you said, rub that patient down with lotion after. Or paint their nails. Or something extra. It is hard. The fact is, there is a limited amount of time for you to get everything done.

Give it your best effort, work on your time management skills, and learn to delegate effectively. Then learn to stop worrying about it because...you are human, not magic.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

You can't do it the way it should be done, even with aides. Patients are higher acuity and staffing is lower. By the time they get to the hospital they're unable to do almost anything for themselves.

You have to take care of safety first. Make sure they're not gonna fall out of bed, make sure their vitals are stable, make sure they get their meds, make sure they're not bleeding out. Lotion on the feet is gravy.

[Zookeeper3]

Never,

but I'm way too busy emptying trash(cut back), counting meds each time I pull them (cost saving pharmacy measure), scanning supplies for central supply(cost saving central measure), checking fridge temps for dietary(they're too busy), doing incentive spirometry for out busy RT, doing ROM for PT who took the day off for snow... finding the clicker, fixing the leaky sink(maintennce leaves at 11p), answering the door for the secretary on break, watching others patients and needing to pee for three hours.

With two, just two patients who have yet to be turned, late meds, irate family with a thousand questions because the doc is too busy to talk, no buddy in sight to help, the phone ringing, tube station buzzing and a second cousin from out of town throwing a fit on the phone who has tyed up my turning partner and a nurse needing a witness for a narcotic waste.... did I mention the computers went down? Yeah on nights it's slow and the best time to make me double document, go back and rescan all my meds.

Sure, I've got plenty of time to do enough... just don't dare crash, drop your BP or have chest pain, let alone act as a professional registered nurse and care for you, let alone TEACH and prevent you from coming back.

Sure I do enough, it just never is enough

[sistasoul]

Hi Sparrow,

I understand where you are coming from. I was an aide before I was a nurse. I loved being an aide because of the hands on care. I am in my first year of nursing and I feel like I am not doing enough for the patients. I find I am getting them warm blankets, snacks, etc. I am still doing things for my patients that the aides can do.

I get out late every evening and it is partially due to delegating. I feel guilty every day that I have to delegate and feel as a nurse I should be able to bring someone to the bathroom. I hate having to tell someone that I will get someone to help them. First of all I feel it sends the wrong message to the patient and it must feel awful when you have to go to the bathroom badly and someone tells you that they have to wait a few minutes until an aide bcomes available to help them. I know how hard aides work and I try not to ask to much of them.

Because of my OT I am going to have to start delegating more and just stick to my basic nursing tasks. If I want to keep my manager off of my back and keep my job that is. I too will be leaving bedside care eventually because of the feeling of not doing "enough"for my patients.