How will I ever handle a 5 pt load?

ginger58, ASN, RN · Oct 8, 2006

I am a new grad working on a med/surg floor. I have a wonderful preceptor and have worked up(barely) to a 3 pt load. My preceptor helps me a lot!! today I had meds through a NGT, 2 good sized dressing, a blood transfusion through a VAD(1st time I accessed one), a nausous pt with no orders....... notes. I am a little frustated because I really like it but I am not sure how I can be faster and still maintain safe practice. I have been on my floor for 5 wks and do have at least another 8 wks but it's a tough job!!!

Look at all you learned today. Remember you're learning new skills, practicing the ones you've learned. Your preceptor sounds like she's getting you things to learn and will get you to where you need to be. It's scarey for everyone learning nursing and I'm sure most of us have asked the same question..."How am I going to...".

Nursing is a tough job but you're going to need to give yourself 6-12 months, ballpark. Best wishes.

augigi, CNS · Oct 9, 2006

Truly, the first year after graduating is the HARDEST time in your career. Just think back to nursing school when you couldn't imagine being able to coordinate all you can today! The only thing which helps is time and experience. The more you do, the more you can do. I still write a list every shift to remind me what dressings/feeds/meds/procedures are due at certain times, and I've been practising for 10 years.

You are lucky to have a good preceptor - use him/her! Ask her tips for improving your time management. Cluster what care you can. Make a plan at the start of the day as to how your day is going to go.

Hang in there, if you're enjoying it you are doing well!!

AtlantaRN, RN · Oct 9, 2006

it's the toughest job you will ever love...It just takes time, and you will learn to prioritize... You will learn to cluster your care....go room to room and see your patients at the top of the shift, you will get a flow to it.

it gets easier the longer you do this job.

linda

Holly27 · Oct 12, 2006

You will.It takes time.When I first started I felt the same way. You just have to get you a system that works for you. Like me I make a pre-printed list with check off of what I need to do. Like check gtts, IV sites Drsg BS V/S and so on. I pass meds and check off my list as I go pt to pt. After med pass I gather on my other junk and go back and do stuff from list. Like change tubing, hang new bags etc. I like my list cuzz I can list stuff I need to bring back with me such as Extra tape and 4x4's for drsg changes. So I'm finally up to 10 pts after 14 weeks and only making 3 trips into my pt room instead of 5! B/c I forgot something.LoL I guess my list is a plus b/c I've had 2 other nurses get copies from me.

rn undisclosed name · Oct 12, 2006

Believe it or not you will get there. It just takes time. I was saying the same thing you are. Granted I am only in my 10th week of orientation. I never thought I'd be able to do 5 patients and I just started taking 5 patients this week. It wasn't so bad going from 4 to 5 patients. I had a much harder time going from 3 to 4.

While you have less patients take the time to learn. It takes awhile for things to become second nature. It won't be easy but you will get there.

colleennurse, ASN, RN · Oct 15, 2006

You will.It takes time.When I first started I felt the same way. You just have to get you a system that works for you. Like me I make a pre-printed list with check off of what I need to do. Like check gtts, IV sites Drsg BS V/S and so on. I pass meds and check off my list as I go pt to pt. After med pass I gather on my other junk and go back and do stuff from list. Like change tubing, hang new bags etc. I like my list cuzz I can list stuff I need to bring back with me such as Extra tape and 4x4's for drsg changes. So I'm finally up to 10 pts after 14 weeks and only making 3 trips into my pt room instead of 5! B/c I forgot something.LoL I guess my list is a plus b/c I've had 2 other nurses get copies from me.

Holy Cow! What area/shift do you work in that you are taking 10 patients?

Melody1968 · Oct 15, 2006

That is extremely dangerous to have 10 patients. I would not put my license on the line with that many patients for any amount of $$$.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Oct 15, 2006

That is extremely dangerous to have 10 patients. I would not put my license on the line with that many patients for any amount of $$$.

There are long term care facilities out there that have a 50:1 ratio on nights. There are psych units with 15:1 ratios. It's not uncommon for med/surg to have 8:1 or 10:1. This is the real world of nursing.

Holly27 · Oct 17, 2006

That is extremely dangerous to have 10 patients. I would not put my license on the line with that many patients for any amount of $$$.

I meant I have 10 patients as a team. 1 RN, 1LPN and a CNA. Didn't mean to freak anyone out.lol But I do know the day shift is short(Doctors keep taking our nurses!!!). and each team might have 13 pts" like today". THAT'S why I have my handy-dandy list. To keep everything straight. I work the cardiac floor with 40 beds(full aleast 90% of the time) and we have 4 teams or if we have less LPN's and more RN's then we might have 2 teams with 10 and the other RN's working as primary with 3-4 pts.

:nurse:

colleennurse, ASN, RN · Oct 17, 2006

I meant I have 10 patients as a team. 1 RN, 1LPN and a CNA. Didn't mean to freak anyone out.lol But I do know the day shift is short(Doctors keep taking our nurses!!!). and each team might have 13 pts" like today". THAT'S why I have my handy-dandy list. To keep everything straight. I work the cardiac floor with 40 beds(full aleast 90% of the time) and we have 4 teams or if we have less LPN's and more RN's then we might have 2 teams with 10 and the other RN's working as primary with 3-4 pts.

Oh team nursing! I was gonna saw wow, cardiac pts and 10 of them!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2006

Even though I don't work on a med-surg floor, I have 18 patients in LTC. It's manageable and quite rewarding.