How do you schedule/organize your day?

Jennaswa · Dec 3, 2006

I do not have a permenent set of pts, I float day to day. Can anyone here help me figure out how to prioritize my day with my pts.
Example
7am-3pm
wake everyone up,depending on if I am in the dining room(which breakfast then begins at 8:15) this is much more time consuming, or pass out hall trays which is a bit easier. When is it best for showers? What if they are total care? I need help figuring out what I should begin with. I also have pts families who are demanding immediate care first thing.
I like to take my time, and clean thoroughly, it seems I never have enough time..
What to do??
Jen

I am surprised I never had one response. Well, I figured it out, so it's ok!

chadash · Dec 16, 2006

I am so sorry you haven't gotten a response! Must be cause there is so much going on right now, holiday wise....

I know your difficulty with managing more tasks than there is time to do.

I have not worked in LTC for a while, but will tell you this: never clean anything that is not dirty, never do twice what you can do once, get everything you need for a task the first time, dont waste your time going back for something.....

Spring_Peeper · Dec 16, 2006

Jen,

I didn't respond because I am a new LNA, also interested in seeing how more experienced LNAs schedule their days.

But it's possible that the best people to answer your question appropriately are the people your work with on your wing. The charge nurse can tell you which patients are prone to having toilet accidents if not toileted on a schedule, and which patients are fall risks that will try to get out of bed right after breakfast.

I float, too, and I don't hesitate to ask the other LNAs if they've ever had my assignment, and how they prioritized it. Some people are very helpful.

For showers, I work it out with the other LNAs when the shower room will be available. Some residents like to sleep in and shower in late morning. Others are early birds. Others refuse to ever take a shower.

Pt families will always want their resident to be first. If there is a particular appointment they need to be ready for, that is an acceptable reason to do them earlier. Otherwise, the accident-prone people should go first, in my opinion.

I would also like to be able to take my time and do a thorough job, but rarely am able to. One of my charge nurses told me to aim for no more than 20 minutes per resident for AM care. It's very frustrating.

How is it going for you so far?

Peeper