mblount

I have heard that also.

I have precept-ed many new grads and this is a common problem. The ones who master their work load are the ones who are happier. With that said here is my advice. Arrive just a few minutes before report time so that you can get your stuff together and be ready for report. I like to use a form for my report that way I have the information on the patient in the same place and don't have to search for it. After report check telie strips, vs, lab, mar then go see the patient for a quick howdy do and quick assessment. When I pass out the scheduled meds is when I do a in depth assessment. I try not to streess about med times but I do try to be timely. The big thing I have found is that you need to keep up on charting and check you patients frequently. Always ask them before you leave the room if they need anything, keep their stuff close to them and the call light use drops. This helps also. There will always be days when no matter how together you are you will have one or two patients that bog you down. Just because you are doing primary nursing does not mean that you should not ask for help. We are all in the patient care business and if your sister/brother nurse needs help because they are swamped help out.

In all the years I have worked I have found that the L&D nurses tend to stay put longer then any other area. More of their patient loads are happy patients then not.