Organizational skills

[Wise Woman RN]

I wonder if there are any resources that I can obtain to improve my organizational skills? My manager has said that I need to improve in this area. I had thought that my organizational skills were excellent. I am an experienced nurse, 15 years in rehab. I am a preceptor on the unit, and a resource nurse for the other nurses. I have also been blessed with many and varied experiences in my career, so I am a resource for more complicated patients. We don't have a secretary on our unit, and usually only one tech for 13 patients. The nurses are required to do all the orders, enter on the computer, put the charts together for the admits, answer the phone, educate and support the families, pass the meds, as well as doing dressing, grooming, feeding, answering lights etc, etc... the problem is that if a co-worker needs help, or a patient needs the bathroom, or a doctor is on the phone, or any number of other things occur, there goes my organization.

I go in to my unit a half hour early to get my "cheat sheet" ready, pt name, labs, list of treatments and things that have to be done, and check them off when I do them. But sometimes I just can't get everything finished and get out on time... Do I tell my coworkers that I am sorry, they have to deal with whatever?? What do I tell the patients?? I am sorry, I'm busy at the moment?? Anyway, if there are any suggestions, I sure would appreciate them.