Multitasking as Nurses

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As nurses, we are expected to multitask in order to provide comprehensive quality of care for our patients.

Define multitasking.

What influences one's ability to multitask?

How does improving your multitasking skills help with making good clinical decisions?

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Specializes in med-surg.

Multitasking is the ability to simultaneously execute multiple tasks.

Several things influence your ability to multi-task; Mostly it is your experience. More experienced nurses can walk into their patients room and get everything done in one visit while subconsciously thinking what they need to do with their other patient as soon as they are done.

Being able to multitask effeciently takes critical thinking skills. Therefore, you will have the mindset to make better clinical judgement.

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Have you ever felt like you were being over-stretched?

Or do you feel comfortable that your multi-tasking skills will kick-in in the most stressful of clinical situations?

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Specializes in med-surg.

Yes, sometimes there are days where I feel a little "overstretched".

But with your second question about my multi-tasking skills kicking in when things get really stressful- During those times I not only use my multitasking skills, but mostly my prioritization skills. I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary, and I still have a long way to go before I am a pro at multitasking and prioritization.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Please don't laugh.

But Moms are really, really good at multitasking. When they are nurse-moms, they are exemplary---this is my own anecdotal (from MY OWN COLLEAGUES) experience.

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Valid point.

My mom uses computerized charting at work, but is technologically challenged in all other areas.

If we could cross mom's multitasking skills with their youngins' technological savvy, we'll have a new breed of nurses altogether :)

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Some have the ability to multi-task and some do not.

I cannot fault the ones who don't because some can only focus on one thing at a time to PREVENT ERRORS. That's really the prudent, most safest thing to do.

I truly believe that when we take on too much, we can easily overlook something MAJOR that can lead to errors. I wouldn't want that.

Now the skill that really impacts multitasking more than anything--should be prioritization. THAT'S the skill to really work on.

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