How the Heck am I Going to Be a Med Surg Nurse if I'm so forgetful? (ADHD Nurse)

[NNurseLina]

Hello,

I'm a new grad nurse who just graduated from a nurse residency program. Throughout the program, I would forget stuff like my pen lights and and lunch boxes during the didactic part of my training. It fills me with anxiety to know that I'm going to be hired on a MedSurg Tele floor with a 6:1 to 7:1 ratio. I'm afraid I will forget or miss something. How can I get more organized and stop being so forgetful? I start my preceptorship soon and I am so nervous to disappoint or make an error. I have bought myself a tool organizer for my pen light and shears, and I am looking for a good brain sheet to organize my shift well to have good habits before I start. I even want healthy and quick meal ideas on the go so I can have time for my patients. Anything that you can share, please do.

Signed,

A nervous, forgetful new grad

[TigraRN]

Make lists of things pending for each patient and check them off as you go.

[cleback]

Also don't skip breaks. I noticed that I get more scattered if I don't take them... also management won't like it either.

[RNperdiem, RN]

No quick fixes here. I make a big effort to get a good night's sleep before work; a rested brain just works better.

On the day before work, I make getting to work easy by having lunch packed the night before, a clean uniform laid out, my work shoes in the car and leave plenty of time to drive to work. Running late and getting that rushed feeling is no way to start the day. Breakfast is oatmeal for me. It is filling, energizing and easy to prepare in the morning.

At work, I make good use of my brain sheet. With six patients, you can get interrupted frequently, and having stuff written down helps you reorient.

I agree with cleback, don't skip breaks. Sit down, even if only for five minutes.

[Ashley_SF, BSN]

No quick fixes here. I make a big effort to get a good night's sleep before work; a rested brain just works better.

On the day before work, I make getting to work easy by having lunch packed the night before, a clean uniform laid out, my work shoes in the car and leave plenty of time to drive to work. Running late and getting that rushed feeling is no way to start the day. Breakfast is oatmeal for me. It is filling, energizing and easy to prepare in the morning.

At work, I make good use of my brain sheet. With six patients, you can get interrupted frequently, and having stuff written down helps you reorient.

I agree with cleback, don't skip breaks. Sit down, even if only for five minutes.

This is great advice. I do the same thing. I also make sure I have about 5 minutes to stretch a little and have some quiet time because odds are it will be my only peaceful moment all day.

As far as meals go, the crockpot is your friend. Fast, easy and you can make enough food for several days. I also keeps snacks in my locker just in case I need a pick me up. Something low in sugar, but high in protein and complex carbs.

[Neats, BSN]

I would program myself to have one spot only where I place my nursing items...one spot only on a shelf that you can see and before you go to bed make sure that spot has what you need.

At work take a piece of printer paper and fold it in half then fold in half the other way you should have 4 squares...

place your work time in 2 hour increments for example

square 1: 6-8

square 2: 8-10

Square 3: 10-12

Lunch

square 4 :1-3 You get the ideal of placing your times in small chunks

In each square place what you need to get done within that time frame and mark off when completed or carry over into the next square if not completed.

I have used this trick when I am under stress it keeps me grounded as I tend to be forgetful.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

I have found that for me, hyperfocus kicks in and I don't forget the important stuff. I do often forget small things like requests for specific snacks, etc. but I'm only human. You just need to get used to the environment and develop strategies to ensure your success. Don't feel bad for secluding yourself if you need to. I know for me, I can't be near a lot of other people. I have to just focus on my job and my patients and tune everything else out.

[Alex_RN, BSN]

These are some great tips. Nothing I have to add, but I also always prep the night before. If I am working a few days in a row I make all my lunches at the same time (hurrah for slow cooker!) but my lunches are always simple, like lean protein and rice. I also pack snacks for the drive home, and always have an extra protein bar in my backpack. I used to have an old tupperware in the trunk of my car that I would empty my pockets into after shift, and refill my pockets the next day, but now, no matter how tired I am, I formally decommission my pockets into my backpack, and clean my stethoscope, right after I clock out.

Routines are helpful.