Feeling like I'll never get it right

[RNAnna]

Ok, we've all had those feelings. The nasty nagging feeling that you're just never going to get it right no matter what you do. Bingo. Ding, ding, ding, I've just won the jackpot.

I had a meeting with my manager and chief nursing officer (aka DON). It seems that I have great people skills, I am very good when it comes to documentation, and I have a very professional mannor. But if I am prioritizing well, it seems that I'm not doing things in a timely mannor and if I am being timely, I am not prioritizing. Help me out here. Shouldn't my preceptor be teaching me these things rather than just telling me that "you're doing fine"? She does tell me that I need to manage time better, but then doesn't give any suggestions as to how to get it done. I'm not sure I like being backed into this corner and feeling like someone is going to get the dart set out for some target practice.

So, I need some help. Any ideas on prioritization or time management? Does anyone talk about these issues with their preceptors? What kind of feedback do your preceptors give you, because I'm starting to think that my preceptor isn't into this precepting thing. Either that or I'm her first and she hasn't had any teaching skills. Or, like me, she just may not have a clue about how and why she does things the way she does.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Anna

[dlhommer]

my preceptor recommends grouping cares and having a good worksheet to use. also a nursing instructor told me to make up my own worksheet so that it will work for me with whatever I need so that I can be reminded of the things I need to complete to keep my on task and get everything done that needs to be done. I also from experience, as much experience I can have for a couple of weeks into things, that your not going to be great at time management right away, so I agree with you that your preceptor should be helping by giving you tips that will help you save time and will give you a chance to provide great care. if you want a copy of my worksheet that I am using please feel free to email me and I will send it to you and you can customize it to your needs because it's always a work in progress. I hope some of this mumble jumble helps

Deb :rotfl:

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

Well, I can give you some suggestions, but I'm very new at this too. I hope they help

As far as prioritization:

When I get out of report, my preceptor and I look at the list of pt's and see which is the most unstable/in most immediate need. Today, as we get out of report, the CNA tells us one of our pt's (we had 4) was vomiting. We saw her first. The other day, it was a woman with a trach that had massive secretions and needed suctioning. Think like on the NCLEX, like you were trying to prioritze your pt's and select the most in need.

When today we had an admissions database to do, unit of blood to hang for a man who's H&H was 7.9/22.7, and set up a PCA for a man who was struggling to breathe, in constant pain that morphine/haldol q1h wasn't covering we had to decide and prioritize which to do first. We did the PCA b/c the man needed to relieve his pain so he could breathe better. (he literally got out of breath drinking water. he was using accessory muscles, etc. )

now, time management im not so good at. I'd never be able to do it all w/o my preceptor there..