handling 4 patients

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Any tips on handling four patients, good mindsets to take on or what you find helps to tackle the load? Just started caring for four pts and the mornings are rough with a slew of morning meds from 0700-1000, doing assessment and charting as you go. I find it pretty overwhelming. I could manage three patients with my charting getting wrapped up by around 1100, but the fourth patient just makes everything feel rushed, chaotic and charting becomes an even bigger hassle. I know it's all time management and prioritizing, but jeez I'm a mess until around 11-12. I try charting as I go from patient to patient, but I'm really only able to finish one patient after bedside report until med time comes around. I group meds that close enough together (hour to give before and after most meds scheduled time) and safe to give, but just get swept up in everything going on.

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Specializes in ICU/ER, Maternal, Psych.

I don't have any tips other than it will prepare you for real nursing especially in a hospital. I worked at a snif where the nurse had 72 pts alone

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Yeah, it's tough at first. What I did when I started working with four patients was I'd go in a little early to check the charts and in particular the meds for when they're due. Then I'd get report, do my first shift assessments and vitals (document those vitals ASAP!) and launch into the first med pass of the shift. Those that had 8 am meds only would usually get theirs first, and since we also could give them 1 hour before and after, if it was safe to do so, I'd then group the ones with 8 and 9 am meds together. I'd do the 9 am only group last. Then it's off to charting. That usually meant that I'd be able to start charting between about 8:30 and 9 am.

Once you get used to the system they use, your charting will speed up. I got to be pretty quick at it, but not as quick as someone that's worked with the system for quite a while.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Organization is key....you need brain sheets...here are a few.

doc.gif mtpmedsurg.doc

doc.gif 1 patient float.doc‎

doc.gif 5 pt. shift.doc‎

doc.gif finalgraduateshiftreport.doc‎

doc.gif horshiftsheet.doc‎

doc.gif report sheet.doc‎

doc.gif day sheet 2 doc.doc

doc.gif Two pt worksheet.doc (45.0 KB, 348 views)

doc.gif Pt Assessment Tool.doc (51.0 KB, 451 views)

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