Experienced nurses: teach us your time management skills

[HeartsOpenWide]

Dear experienced nurses,

please help!

I know time management skills, lack there of, is really killing me as a new grad. I know my stuff, but my time management skills are starting to make me look bad! I know some of it is that I am not the most organized person in the world, not the worst because I am fairly anal, but learning how to be a nurse makes me feel like a "dysfunction Type A"; I am having a hard time getting my grove down.

I have read several threads on there with new grads struggling as being new grads and many mention time management skills. Most responses are "it will come with time". Can any of you experienced nurses give us actual tips, tricks of the trade, things you do to manage your time?

[General E. Speaking, RN, RN]

Risk for error. Hopefully you go with your paper MAR or some sort of identification. Or you're just one smart nurse.

How so? Only one patients meds are pulled at a time. You log in, click the patients profile and return the unused meds, get into the other person's profile and pull their meds. How does this increase the risk for errors? It prevents multiple trips back and forth to the pyxis for PRNs.

I think anticipating their needs is working smart, not hard.

[nursingilove]

One day, a new grad will pass on a bunch of 3s to you, and you will remember when, not so long ago, that was you, and you will smile and be patient and tell that new grad they did a good job and to go home and get some well deserved rest.

this is so important!!!! love this

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

I make my own brain sheet. I haven't found a preprinted one I like as much. We round at the bedside together right after report so immediate patient needs are made known then, and we do a quick check of fluids/tubing. Then I check my charts, check vitals, computer orders(diet, code status, activity), meds. If someone is high on my assessment list or has an immediate need, I see them first and assess and bring whatever they need. Otherwise I assess as I do my midnight meds.

Try to chart as I go along. Once assessments are done and charted, I can respond to call lights/needs as they come up. We round hourly. Chart to the electronic plan of care. Glucose and dressing changes and line draw labs in the morning, any meds during the night. If I can keep my routine up, it's not totally obliterated when I get an admission or someone has a change in condition. But there are still mornings I get out late if I have a complicated admission, a lot of needs at shift end, or report takes forever.

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

How so? Only one patients meds are pulled at a time. You log in, click the patients profile and return the unused meds, get into the other person's profile and pull their meds. How does this increase the risk for errors? It prevents multiple trips back and forth to the pyxis for PRNs. I think anticipating their needs is working smart, not hard.

I was thinking taking a bunch of meds in that you may or may not give could be a problem. Of course a patient may refuse a med but I generally only take in the meds that are scheduled or very likely to be needed.

Also someone talked about taking extra supplies into the room and we are discouraged from doing this. We can't return extras to the clean linen or supply and it clutters up the room if they are unused.