Organizing unorganization

[KalipsoRed]

I'm trying to figure out if I'm just totally the most unorganized person in the world or what. I've been a nurse for a year so I'm still young in the business. I just feel like I'm missing things all the time. I'm not sure how to organize in a manner as to which I will get them all done. I've tried everyone elses "systems" and I've tried my own variations, but there are days that it just doesn't matter and I still end up confused and unorganized. Some of it, I think, comes from the way my hospital does things. We do paper charting. The assessment sheet and nursing notes are not something I have issues with, it's all the other paper work. There seems to be a sheet for every little thing and most of the time I was unaware of the form in the first place. We also do computer charting, so I end up having to chart many things twice. Some times I don't even get to the computer charting. I'm not a type A personality, so I will admit that organization is hard for me anyway, but I've been trying and trying and trying to find something that works for me and nothing seems to! Any body else feel like they work somewhere that the paper work changes so often that you can't keep up? How do you deal?

[Diaper, RN]

We use paper charting and computer charting in my hospital. Here're the things that I do:

I'll assess the patient first thing in the morning, give 8:00am meds. Then sit down and chart my assessment. I usually give myself a goal that by 10:00am, I'll get most of my initial assessment chartings done.

If the patient has restraint, foley, PCA and core measure illnesses (depends on ur hospital's protocols), it's likely that you will need to chart them on separate piece of paper. If you have questions, you should ask your coworkers.

I usually prioritize the things that I need to do such as:

1) notify the MD with critical lab value 2) meds 3)charting 4) bedbath. If you need to go to the patient's room, gather ALL the supplies such as meds, normal salines, alcohol swab and put extra gowns, towels in the closet. So you don't need to go to the patient's room bath and forth.

IF I'm really busy on that day and I don't have time to chart, I'll go to a private room during my break and catch up with my charting.

Good luck and I hope it helps :)