"Shortcuts"

7nurse · Feb 17, 2004

CURIOUS... to know how many nurses take "shortcuts"
Not going strictly "by the book" in order to put in your shift,without shortcutting your own sanity.
Keeping locks locked, charts charted, tx's completed, supplements passed,
Myself, I cant do all by the Book..
Is this where Nursing Judgement covers, lack of time to get to the lower priorities?
"First do no Harm"
How do you rationalize a less than "perfect" completion of your many tasks?
thanks for your time

Surmised by lack of replies:

1.You don't take "shortcuts"

2. You are a by the "book" nurse, who has no time for breaks, lunch,or replying to this query

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2004

Well, Ill respond..First why do you ask? Do you feel overwhelmed or having a hard time getting stuff done?

The things that I do to stay organized and get the work done are pretty simple. First I make sure I show up early and get my self settled. Have my census/ Roster sheet ready and updated. After getting report, I eyeball all my residents and prioritize from there. As far as short cuts... I always check the level of supplies at the start of the shift..(tube feeds, dressings, IVs) and get them ready if needed. I admit.. I dont always lock my med cart during med pass, but it is always within view. Charting is done when I have time... sometimes notes are just CYA, but they are done and cover the important points... Treatments are done (sometimes the aids will appy the creams to the but or skin prep to feet). Supplements have been cut down for us..just milkshakes with meds. Luckly, I have been having good nites at work and have a wonderfull group of CNAs, but if it hits the fans... Do no harm applies... First meds, then treatments, then charting and a prayer is said on my way home.

What about you?

loriLPN · Feb 17, 2004

at the facility where i work, anything over 8 hrs a day is overtime. so what i do is take my time and do all my treatments and meds which I can make fit into 8 hours (with my 15 min break and lunch). i save all paperwork for after my shift- which adds up to about 45 minutes of overtime every day.

1. i get my WELL deserved breaks

2. i spend more 1:1 time with my patients

3. i do a more complete job charting

4. i cut my stress in half by not rushing to fit everything into 8 hours.

5. i make more money

i do not sit around- i am on my feet all day. this also gives me time to help the cna's.

7nurse · Feb 18, 2004

at the facility where i work, anything over 8 hrs a day is overtime. so what i do is take my time and do all my treatments and meds which I can make fit into 8 hours (with my 15 min break and lunch). i save all paperwork for after my shift- which adds up to about 45 minutes of overtime every day.
1. i get my WELL deserved breaks
2. i spend more 1:1 time with my patients
3. i do a more complete job charting
4. i cut my stress in half by not rushing to fit everything into 8 hours.
5. i make more money
i do not sit around- i am on my feet all day. this also gives me time to help the cna's.

Thanks for both replys: I guess some of my problem is feeling guilty for not being able to do more on a personal basis for the residents, without running to te next task when I see a quality of life issue that I should atend to in the room I'm in. (for example, making sure they have everything attended to, They need pulled up in bed to be more comfortable,(which can be very important to the resident) DO I run up and down to find help,being stopped along the way with more requests and tasks.or do I stragetically let it "slip my mind" to attend to other agendas.

To me it seems like a juggling act to please everyone and all the while having the pressure of write ups for infractions commited... which are many that management has to use whenever they want to

Lori your ot for paperwork sounds good, But I have the same aversion to ot as I do to missing scheduled breaks and lunch.

and btw, you hate needles ...I hate germs

Carry on......

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2004

This is one reasons there is so much dissatifaction in nursing- It is a constant no-win battle to try and give your pts all the care they deserve, spend a few minutes w/ a lonely or scared pt, do things the way they are supposed to be done and not run yourself to death trying to do it all.

It is impossible.

I try to be very organized, and take short-cuts with things that don't affect pt care, such as paper-work and administrative stuff.

I work w/ a lot of pts who are Hep B and/or C pos, Hiv + among other contageous diseases. When doing procedures w/ these pts involving sharps and blood, I always slow down and am very aware of what I am doing, no matter how much pressure I am getting to hurry up.

I am not going to put myself at greater risk just because the for-profit company I works for puts employees in a constant time crunch.