Too much to do for ONE PERSON, staying late to catch up

Palliative Care, DNP · Jul 8, 2013

I don't stay late unless absolutely unavoidable. Everything you just said is why I'm getting out of floor nursing. I am but one person and all of the constant demands & new tasks is ridiculous.

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Jul 8, 2013

Life in nursing in a nutshell.......

Now you know one of the reasons for continued medication errors and patient dissatisfaction. There is no such thing as Nurse Satisfaction Scores. I'm working on the BSN so that I can get out of the hospital for good, with the ultimate goal of placing nursing in the rear view mirror. Good luck and welcome to the jungle!

LaceyRN12 · Jul 8, 2013

I'm glad there are a couple people who feel the same way.

I don't know anybody who actually likes being a nurse. YEAH, what about NURSE SATISFACTION SCORES? I just feel like the person who passes out medications and a servant to patients and their relatives. I'm not even kidding. I don't feel like a nurse.

SwansonRN · Jul 8, 2013

Yup, the other day I stayed an extra 2 hours helping to stabilize my patient and finishing up my charting. It's what happens to me whenever I make plans for after work, late admission that ends up crashing. I have been working for a year so I'm still a bit of a slow poke sometimes but other times you just can't help it!

gcupid · Jul 9, 2013

I feel like I don't have enough hours in the day to do everything I need to do at work. There are always patients and family members needing everything to be perfect. And then you have sooo much charting to do. And then you get discharges and admissions. And then you're behind on all of the medications you have to give. And then you're unable to start an IV or draw blood. ETC. ETC. I feel like it's incredibly too much to do for just 1 person. I put on a fake smile at work when deep down inside I'm screaming and crying at how much I have to do. I can never get things done when I want to. I want to finish charting or finish doing something else but then other things pop up and I'm completely interrupted. I'm always the type of person who needs to finish something right then and there. It truly bothers me. I don't even have enough time to just spend a little time sitting with the patient and actually caring for them. I'm always in and out of the room because of all the things that need to be done before the end of the shift. I feel horrible. Please give me some encouraging words or relatable stories.
I have to stay late just to finish charting. How late do you stay at work??

It just comes with the territory. I'm convinced that working conditions will not change for nurses until we are forced to band together.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Jul 9, 2013

You MUST manage and prioritize your interruptions. If I'm pulling, scanning, administering meds, i do not answer my phone. If its that important, they'll call back. i have never gotten in trouble for not answering my phone as others have because I have a good track record with answering, while a handful nurses choose to not answer when they are in the middle of everything, which is nearly all the time! If you have computers in each room or WOWs, try charting on the patient while standing in the room of that patient, usually after first med pass. You will not get interrupted by other coworkers, and I've found that if you tell patients, "I'm going to enter information about you into the computer. It will take about ten minutes," they usually won't bother you. If I get a call from another patient while charting, I set time expectations and keep to it. "What do you need? Ok, I'll be there in 15 minutes. Thank you in advance for your patience." I routinely break the stupid rule of not telling patients that I have other patients. Ex: I pass meds to one patient who wants a water refill. I get a call about pain meds for another patient. " I have a patient who is in pain. let me go see him, then I'll bring you water, ok?" Most patients are VERY understanding, and I've never had a complaint on my explanations. HOWEVER, I have had a complaint about a patient who had to wait for something, and when I went to the room for recovery, he said to me, "Oh, no one told me you were busy with an emergency! If I had known, I wouldn't have been such an ass."

valeriamariaflynn · Jul 9, 2013

Dudette 10, you are completely on the money. It's as if I wrote that thread! I give patients that can call me my number, so I am in communication with them and they feel validated and I can tell them if and when I can be there to assist. They love that. I manage and prioritize my interruptions. I chart what I can in the room while the patient sleeps, or is on the commode, and they like my presence there. I go out of my way to help the other nurses when I have a moment to spare and it comes back to me tenfold; they will go in to one of my rooms to help my patient when they know I am tied up with another. Because they know I would do the same for them! I don't have all the answers, I am a new grad but have years and years of customer service experience that have been invaluable. At least I can get through a busy shift without having to stay late for the most part. Except for those late admissions, lol!

weirdscience · Jul 9, 2013

Thanks Dudette and Valeria! I got some good tips from both of you as someone only a few months into a med/surg job.

LaceyRN12 · Jul 11, 2013

Thanks for your words, everybody. I feel like if I stay in the room, the patient will have more things to say or more things for me to do. "Oh, since you're in here with me..." So I don't know about that. I just wish the nurse to patient ratio was a lot better... like 1:2 or 3. That way I'd have more time to actually care for my patients, you know??

Pudnluv, ASN, RN · Jul 11, 2013

It really boils down to time management and prioritization. This comes with time and experience. Also, setting limits is important. When a patient keeps making demands, it is alright to say, "I can't do that right this minute, but I will be back in 15 minutes". Most patients are quite receptive to that. The key is to make sure you come back when you say you do. I worked the floor for many years before transferring to the Emergency room. Being able to prioritize and manage my time is what saves me. I have not had to stay late in years (except for the emergencies that come through the door at change of shift) and never to finish my charting.

ToothFairy(5) · Jul 11, 2013

Wow, I forgot how much I did not like med-surg for that reason. I love the place I am at now. Great team work, the shift before preps for me and I return the favor. At least I know my shift starts off real nice thanks to great co-workers.

1. prioritize/time management

2. realize you do not have to do it all, nursing is 24/7 ( although we all hate to pass it on sometimes you have to )

3. help other nurses when you can and they will return the favor

4. ask for help when you need it ( other nurses may not know you are sinking )

5. you are only human, just do the best you can