I am a new nurse - I've been off orientation only about 6 weeks. I am working nights on a busy med-surg unit. For the most part, I have great co-workers who are helpful and really know their stuff. I feel like I'm learning a lot. So, the problem is that I usually have 6 patients which is managable most nights, but sometimes I'm assigned 7. On those nights I have 7, I feel like I am so busy that I am on the verge of being unsafe. I am worried that I am going to miss something (I am not able to check on all 7 patients every hour) or that I'll make a med error. This week when I had 7, I literally had no time to check for critical labs on anyone. What if something important had come in?? I am just moving so fast, trying to get it all done. And of course, I am never done on time, I usually work at least an hour OT in the morning charting. Sometimes 2 hours, on a really bad night.
So what I am looking for (besides venting of course) is tips on what I can do on these super busy nights when I feel overloaded. What do you do?