Started LTC a few months ago and I am struggling with my time management. I have med aids, who pass the scheduled meds... but I do all the PRNs and IM/IV. My biggest struggle is doing blood sugars in a timely manner. I start them at 11:00 (lunch served at 12), and I have to chase 16 residents around the building to get their accucheck and sliding scale. Of course we cannot do checks/injections in the dining room, so I am pulling residents out of the dining room and into a room. Usually I can make it through the lunch time accuchecks on time, as long as I am not interrupted. However, when I start the 4pm blood sugars (dinner served at 5), I am chasing the same 16 residents, and also need to do 8 neb treatments. Ironically, none of the neb/blood sugar residents are the same, so I am chasing 24 patients in 1 hour. Technically, the nebs are due at 5, but obviously, nobody wants a neb treatment during dinner. I am required to supervise in the dining room for all three meals, so that takes about 1.5 hours each- some of these folks eat SOOOO SLOW!!! Then, filling out the rest of my day is treatments for 50+ residents, an occasional feeding tube or IV.
Also, its frustrating when I cant find the people I need... because they are still in therapy or the main dining room (WAY other side of the building)
And I gotta say, my CNA's are NEEDY! dang, there is so much squabbling and drama, I am constantly putting out fires with them. Add in a fall that needs neuro checks and my schedule is thrown right out the window.
I feel really overwhelmed! My manager keeps saying I need better time management, but I am worried that maybe it is just too much work for the allotted time?
Can somebody give me some suggestions? I carry a 'cheat sheet', so I can tell at a glance what is coming up, but it seems like the distractions/minor emergencies are what throw me off course. Help please!
(oh, and I run my butt off from when I clock in until I clock out... no smoke breaks, no 15 minute breaks and definitely no facebook! LOL)
