Help me with time management

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a new registered nurse working in general medical area. most difficult thing I find out is time management, especially morning shift. after checking all vital signs, and giving medication, and helping showers and washes, its already about 10am. after that, following doctors' orders, everything just seems all right, but just cannot finish everything on time. Am I doing things too slow?I don't really know. because must be something going wrong with my time management, but I just not sure where the problem is. thanks a lot. everyone.

How many patients do you have? Are there any nurses aides you can ask for help with some of those tasks like vitals and showers?

Specializes in Critical Care, Nsg QA.

One thing you can do is stay current on your charting. Don't leave it for the end! And don't use stray pieces of paper to remind you of things. Try to develop good habits and watch how others manage their time. You can always ask others how they arrange their day. If there are things that can be delegated, do that.

This is just some general ideas.

You get vitals, meds AND baths done by 10?! You're a goddess! Seriously though, I'm new at this too (4 months in) and if I've learned anything at all it's that I have to prioritize and rarely will anything be finished by the arbitrary times set by people who don't do patient care. Even the veterans take quite a while to get things done some days. As long as everyone is cared for and the tasks are done by the end of shift, you're doing great!

Specializes in MPCU.

Do exactly what you are doing. Please, do not take shortcuts. After a while, you will be getting the job done and correctly. It takes time to develop those skills and in-spite of what some will tell you, it can be done.

I remember working my *** off, not having time for a break and staying late to chart. Then, almost like miracle, I looked around one day and saw that it was happening. I'm so grateful that I did not take the tips of those, who eventually found placement with other employers.

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I've NEVER understood why nurses are so adamant that baths etc HAVE to be done in the morning!

There is too much else to do. IVs for example, are really important to be given on time. I stopped doing morning shifts a loong time ago - am too old for all the morning BS.

I would try & ask patients if they would like a shower etc later on in the day maybe when u have more time.

Also get ur charting done early as you can, otherwise u have to stay behind to do it. Do u also use a cheat sheet? Write everything to be done on here & start procedures/meds as early as you can.

Also ask for help if u need it.

I worked mornings on a medical floor too. If you are calming down at around 10am, then I think you are doing fine.

The time right after report is hectic. Breakfast trays arrive long before you have checked blood sugars or have even finished seeing everyone, the doctors round and write new orders, 8am meds are due and the elderly ladies who were given Lasix at 0600 need help to the toilet now.

The trick is learning to recover and get back on task after repeated interruptions and keep slogging through.

If it is a good day, things start settling down by afternoon.

Specializes in Post Anesthesia.
Do exactly what you are doing. Please, do not take shortcuts. After a while, you will be getting the job done and correctly. It takes time to develop those skills and in-spite of what some will tell you, it can be done....

I don't know about not taking short cuts. with todays patient population you have to learn what short cuts are safe to take and which ones aren't. I used to do the most comprehensive head to toe assessment on my patients. I could describe the most obscure murmur or the most subtle lung sounds on a patient who was on room air going home that day after a chean clean work-up for chest pain. As a result of my intense assessment, I learned nothing useful about a patient and ended up having to rush with my meds and dressing changes. It left no time to provide emotional support and encouragement, help my peers, or teach. Taking some shortcuts is just a way of setting priorities and making sure I'm spending the most time doing the most important things.

Specializes in floor to ICU.

One thing that will help you is to stay organized! You need to have a "brain" sheet. You can find examples on this site or develop your own. Write everything down in the exact same place every time.

Ex:

Name/age Dx Doctors Hx IVF Accuck Meds Labs To do's Misc

Or whatever you think is important. When taking report, if you get into the habit of writing these things down in a specific place, it will help you with charting, calling doctors, giving report, etc... I used to flip the page over and write vitals, when pain med was given or when docs rounded.

You will get better with time management as you go. Utilize your techs. Prioritizing is key. This comes with more experience. Sometimes, people have to wait for the 4th juice while you are dealing with other important nursing issues.

Always remember that nursing is 24/7. Somethings simply cannot get done and this is okay. Don't be a doormat. Do what you can reasonably do and don't beat yourself up. Take your lunch and take time to go to the bathroom.

Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

Your post doesn't really say what exactly you're having trouble with. Is it staying late to chart? Or do you just feel overwhelmed with everything?

I get my vitals when I'm passing meds, this is also when I do my assessments. I'll peek in on my pts once I've received shift report to make sure of no immediate needs, then I'll go to the computer and try to enter most assessments. I may have to tweak a liitle on the computer assessment after I've done the head to toe assessment on my pt.

I find that staying ahead of my charting really helps keep me on track. Plus i like to get to the med room before anyone rise to pull all my meds, or before a long line of nurses gets in there. If i wait till later to pull my meds it will back me up the rest of the day, seriously.

You'll find what works for you. It just takes a little tweaking here and there to get down what works for you. And sometimes the most experienced nurse has to stay late.

Thank you so much everyone. its not just charting delays me everytime. just try to finish everything. I feel sometimes just before you finish one thing, new things coming up. and do not want to handover too much to the next shift. Feeling quite embarrassed always going home late because others may think I am doing things not efficiently enough...

Specializes in General Surgical, Ortho, Cardiac ICU.

The biggest thing I had troubles with as a new RN was delegating!!! Remember all the lessons we had on that? It really is a big part of your job! It was really hard for me to ask people for help. I felt like I was bossing others around. However, when you do it properly and respectfully, it will save you! Part of our job description as a Registered Nurse is to delegate (properly, of course ~ baths, vital signs, toilet visits, etc). And remember that it goes both ways! If you have some down time and your CNA is running his/her butt off, offer to help with anything! They will remember it and be even more wililng to help you when you need it! Good luck, and I promise, it gets easier with time!

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