Need help in time management in clinical days

[momreserve]

Hello everybody:). This is my first post. I am asking for your help on how to manage my time

during clinicals. What is a "typical" day on a med/surg or step down icu floor? I know that there is

no set or order of the tasks, but please I need help in what happens in the floor. We will be going

to our clinical site cold turkey. We'll be assigned with clients the day of the clinical. Please please give schedule samples of how you go about your day and what tools in noting down your assessments you use. I am just really worried. Thank you so much for the input.

[redtshirt]

One of the places ive been to is a very busy major surgical unit(vascular, amputations and GI. Every second day was theatre day. So if it was a theatre day youd get your theatre patients ready first pre op check lists, obs, name bands, gowns, bloods etc. Then everyone else out of bed for breakfast, washes meds, daily dressings PRN etc.

On the other days dressings had to be down at half 7 in the morning so breakfasts dressiIVS pain meds mobilising and U/c drain monitoring. Just listen in report find out who your most serious patient is and what needs to be done first then work from there. Its daunting but youll be ok!

[momreserve]

thank you.

[ErinJane]

Personally I do this.

7-7:30 Receive and take notes on report, Also, look up any meds you don't know.

7:30-8 Visit all patients and perform basic assessments. Check vitals, IV site ect.

8-8:30 Meds

8:30-9:30 Morning Assessments

9:30-10:30 Documentation and catch up.

10:30-11:00 Recheck on patients.

11-12 Review dr.s orders, catch up on charting, call drs.

12-1 Meds, Noon reassessment, charting.

By one we are off the floor and doing assignments/having post conference.

[momreserve]

Thank you ErinJane. I appreciate it.

[quiet_one]

Each day is very different, depending on the patients you have. What works best for me is to bring a paper to clinicals with times 0700-1700 (or whatever your clinical times are) The first thing I do after i receive report is to fill in when they are going to procedures that day, what time they need to be given their meds, meal times. From there I put in an initial assessment of the patient within the first hour of being there figure in the daily activities such as hygiene requirements...etc(i make sure there is at least one thing that brings me to the patients room each hour, even if its a quick look in the room). I then know what the patient will be doing and you can chart between those times. Good Luck, you will find a system that works for you!

[momreserve]

Thank you quiet one.