Organization sheets and Incompetence?

[shape0fmyheart]

Hey everyone, I am trying to find a website or any good ideas of how to create a sheet to help organize my patients and what they need throughout the day. I have found that the sheets the floor provides are useless to me. I need more of a focused approach. I also need help when it comes to knowing what to say during report. I read of someone mentioning a sheet for this... does anyone know where I can find examples of these?

Another thing... I have had off this weekend. It's now Sunday 4:39pm and the thought of going back to work tomorrow gives me palpitations and makes me feel like vomiting. I really hope this feeling will end or at least calm down sometime soon. *sigh*. Last week I was only on the floor for Thursday and Friday. Friday I was supposed to have 3 patients by myself but let me say, it was a good thing my preceptor stayed right there with me or else there would have been 300 things that did not get done. I am having the hardest time keeping up with orders, knowing when and how and where to call drs for what reasons (one of my biggest anxieties is dealing with drs), TEACHING (also a big fear) and charting is just a whole other issue. We were there until 4pm finishing up my charting. Thank goodness I have a preceptor who understands. I said "I dont know how I'm ever going to be able to do all this" and she said "Well it's only your second day!". It's so discouraging though. I feel almost worse than I used to feel in clinicals during school... fumbling over myself and totally incompetent. At least I have enjoyed all my patients so far.

[LouisianaNurse2006]

Probably no one elses organization would work for you, you need to make your own because everyone is different. Last semester in clinicals I had the same problem, so I sat down at my computer one night and made my very own "check off" sheet. It helped me get organized and get things done on time at clinicals. Everytime I used it I made adjustments to it and by the end of the semester it was really helping me out alot.

I inserted check off boxes down the left side then a column for the time in 15-30 minute increments, with my list of "to does" at the right. Off course alot of it had to be general comments and I had to allow time for unforseen errands. Also, stick in alot of extra time for charting. Allow extra time for passing meds too, because the patient always needs something when you go to their room.

If you make up your own, it will more likely work for your situation.

Good Luck!

[Jennerizer, ASN, RN]

I agree - you need to make up your own sheet of what you feel is important to include. It may change after a few weeks/months on the job as you learn what needs to be added or deleted from the sheet, but making it up yourself is what works best.

I've been on the job for just over 6 months now - my biggest anxiety in the very beginning was calling the doctors - especially since I work the night shift & knew that most of the calls I made would result in waking a doctor from his/her sleep. I did not like calling, even for something simple. Now I don't mind calling them whatsoever. I don't care if I have to wake them up - if the patient needs something that requires a doctor's order, then it's our job to get that order. The more you call, the more you'll get used to it. Most doctors are not overly demanding or rude - at least that's what I've found so far. In fact, most are rather pleasant. My biggest problem with the doctor's calls is understanding what they are saying - a lot of them have accents & speak rather fast & don't seem to want to wait for you to repeat the order back to them. I used to dread that a doctor might yell at me, but now...I don't care even if that happens (which it hasn't yet). I'm simply doing my job & getting what my patient needs. So even though you're anxious about making the calls, they will get easier with experience. You'll learn to anticipate what they'll be asking depending on why you are calling. Try to remember that they are just regular people & good luck!

[RN50TX]

They are paid alot of $ and should expect calls. What we need to do is get all the info they need up front and SBAR helps: Situation, Background, Assesment, Recommendations. You know sometimes they have a right to be upset we call unprepared with the info they need to give us orders: Vital Signs, Allergies, etc. But bottom line, they should have chosen another profession if they didn't want calls! Don't let them push you around.