How do you organize your day?

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I am a new nurse orienting in the ICU. I feel like I am having trouble managing my time efficiently. My preceptor has been very helpful, but I would love to hear how others manage their busy days so that when unplanned things come up (as they seem to pretty much every day) you don't find yourself woefully behind. I really want to figure out a way to keep on top of everything, I feel like this is my biggest obstacle to success in the ICU right now.

I know that it has been a while since your helpful offer but is there any way I could also get a copy of this "brain" of yours? I was given something similar by an instructor but it doesn't work for me. I am a bit overwhelmed with information and need desperately to get organized. Thank you.

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I think that I just typed my request in the wrong place and it is likely that you will never find it there. Is there any way I could also get a copy of the brain that seems to be so helpful. I am drowning in information and really need some help getting organized. I am also new to the site and don't know how the information sharing thing works yet. Thank you.

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Specializes in SICU, MICU, CICU, NeuroICU.

I try to arrive 5-10 minutes early, so that I can get report without being rushed. After report I get my rhythm strips. By now it's anywhere from 7:15-7:30, I go say hello to my patients and obtain a baseline set of VS (zero lines if necessary). I work nights, so visiting hours are from 7:30-8:30. If there are no family members in the room, or the patient is critical I'll do my assessment then and there, if not, I'll wait until visiting hours are over. I go through my clipboards to do all my checklists and look at the med sheets, write out my piggyback labels and make sure I have all my meds from pharmacy so that I can give my 10pms on time. After that, charting, VS, baths, etc, until about 5am when the pt's get another assessment and changed if need be ... 6am meds, FS, and I&O tally's.

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Thank you for the quick reply. Good advice and much appreciated.

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Kolt, is there anyway you can email me one also. Thanks for you help.:bowingpur

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Hi, I think Kolt is busy and overhelmed by request.

I never received a reply from Dec.

I think nurses could all use a how to organize your day paperback book that would encompass different levels and areas of nursing.

If there's some energetic person out there willing to write it.

I would buy it!

Have a great week!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ICU.

As Kolt has been rather innudated with our requests:saint:, may I suggest further readers visit the above suggestions by Indy and pupnurse? I am currently experimenting with the PocketMod and have found there are upgrades out there (although without customizable text pages though still free) and also like pupnurse's flowsheet which can be adjusted for the individual user. When I transferred from Med-Surg within the last six months I knew my old 'brain' would not serve me any longer but have been at a loss as to what to use instead--I have pretty much been using the back of my report worksheet and collecting scraps of paper, writing on the back of my MAR, etc. throughout the day--leading to chaos at times when charting on the 'official' flowsheet:confused:. We have a clipboard/chart for each patient so like a previous poster, the last thing I need is another separate 'device' to keep up with. Good luck all!

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Specializes in icu/ccu.

hey kolt..may i`ve copy toooooo???

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Kolt... i am sorry to ask... can you please send me one also? i would really appreciate it.

Thank so much!!

[email protected]

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me too kolt pls! im a new sicu nurse and i need some guidelines. appreciate mucho!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I have been an ICU nurse for almost 3 years now and I am very methodical about the way that I organize my time. I get report, check my chart and bedside, assess my pts, give meds and then chart. That's my routine every shift - barring any unforseen events, of course. As far as admissions go, I have a method as well. I get them on the monitor, assessed and a look over the orders for any "now, asap, or STAT" orders, then I get to the admission paperwork. There is one thing that keeps me straight: my paper-brain. I make a line for every hour of my shift (I know OCD - I'm a critical care nurse) and I write down everything that I will have to do for that shift next to the hour that its due. I even spell out every med - its like my third check that I've done everything. And of course, it was brought on by an error as a new nurse - which I am very sorry for, btw. But, what I've found is organization is the key. You have to evaluate what needs to happen first. Nursing is a 24 hour job and sometimes some things can be left for the next shift - don't make it a habit though.

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hi kolt...i would love a copy if you're still feeling generous! thanks!

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