Murphy's Law with shift change??

Specialties MICU

Published

Specializes in ICU.

I'm fairly new to ICU, less than a year. It seems like everyday my mornings go fairly well, but sometime around 3-4pm it all goes to hell and a hand basket and by the end of the shift I am behind and having to leave a few small things behind for the on coming nurse. I HATE leaving stuff behind. I know it's 24 hour nursing care and I wouldn't have a problem doing it occasionally, but it seems like it's everyday. I feel so disorganized and flustered. Some people seem like they just breeze through the day, have everything done, everything charted and they are right out the door. I have tried my hardest, but I can't seem to find what is putting me behind everyday in the late afternoon. Around 2pm we usually have meds due, then 4,5, and 6 meds plus accuchecks. I try to bundle the meds and do all my 16:00 charting as I'm doing those together and then bundle my accuchecks, emptying foleys, taking out the linens and the trash together but somehow I get behind. I seem to be leaving everyday around 8-8:30 because I have to stay late to finish totally my I&O's and finish my 16:00 charting.

Does anyone have anything that helps them keep organized or any idea how I can improve on this? I'm starting to wonder if ICU just isn't a good fit for me.

Thanks!

From everything I've read here your "less than a year" is the issue. Seems like the first year is always the worst. Do you have a checklist? That seems to be what is recommended to everyone also. Good luck!

Specializes in ICU.

Have you tried doing non time sensitive tasks before that 1600 time frame? Like emptying linens and trash before you start getting busy? I work nights so 0400 is when I get really busy and I know to have my baths done before then. Also, I would ask coworkers what they do that gets them out on time.

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