Improving Time management and critical thinking skills.

[nars2014]

Hello everyone! I've been a nurse for a year in a busy medsurg/renal floor but it seems like i still havent got the groove like everybody else. My time management (and sometimes with critical thinking) is still a mess, so my manager told me that she'll pair me up with someone senior than me that i feel comfortable with. This person will serve as my shadow during a shift to help me pinpoint where my problems are. I dont have a problem with this but i'm just feeling so frustrated because i dont know how to improve my practice.. Any advice from nurses who just had a year of practice like me who feels that they got "it" already?

[RN403, BSN, RN]

I learned to cluster my activities which really helps with timing. You can also try to anticipate your patient's needs to prevent running back and forth.

As far as critical thinking...I go home everyday and review my patient's disease processes and nursing interventions which helps me to anticipate the worst case scenario and plan accordingly. It also helps encourage and develop critical thinking. I also have nursing journals that I read and I always ask the senior nurses how they handle a situation and that helps me critically think through patient issues and learn how to respond. Always remember your basic ABCs and the rest will come with time.

Good luck. I am happy to see your employer is supportive of your learning and success as a nurse.