How to manage 14 to 20 patients

[apmarquez]

Hi I am a new nurse and have been working as a nurse for 3 weeks. I work on a sub-acute rehab floor where I can have anywhere from 14 to 20 patients. I have been feeling very overwhelmed recently because I am finding it difficult to care for so many patients. I find it difficult to properly do my assessments with so many patients and can only do it on the new admissions I get. I have to do 2 med pass per shift but I keep getting detailed when I am doing them because I either get a new admission, or something is wrong with a patient, or a family member wants to talk to me. Also my patients are supposed to be subacute but I have a couple that I believe should be on an acute floor in a hospital. When I get a new admission I have to stay after my shift for an hour to do the charting for them. I also have a problem with some of the CNA's and making sure that they are completing their tasks properly I dont like having to babysit grown adults and make sure that they are doing their jobs which also puts me further behind. I also have a problem with their attitude that they give me I was told be preceptor that it was because I am new and so much younger than them. I am supposed to be in training still but have been left on my own for a week now with no preceptor.

[Forest2]

So, I guess your question is, how to handle a heavy load. My answer is by time management, saying no and asking for help and politely giving orders to subordinates. As a nurse you will be constantly bombarded with interruptions, this is normal. You have to learn all the tips and tricks to getting things done with little time and one hour over your shift is not that long. Just expect it to happen because it does, and more than you will want it to. Good luck with your on the job training.