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Discussion

RNs trying to find the time to lead groups

Hi,

I work inpatient psych and as a RN, one of our duties is to lead a group in an 8 hour shift. The problem is that there is so little time to do this and to do admissions/discharges, passing meds, entering orders (we don't have unit secretaries), attending to ADLS, charting, 15 minute rounds, etc. We usually have one mental health tech per unit, but he/she usually leads his/her own group once per shift. I am curious if other RNs run into this same dilemma. Also, once a group is completed, we have to do group notes, which adds to everything else that needs to be done. :uhoh3:

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    Do you have time to spend with the patients at all? If so, you could use that time for a group. I hope you aren't busy every single minute of your shift. If you can't get time with the patients, or time to breathe, you could burn out pretty quickly.

    Are you the only nurse? If there's more than one of you, could you take turns? What about community meeting? Does that count? Goal-setting? Medication information? Nutrition? A game? A group doesn't have to be long.

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    The unit I'm on does community meetings once a day. Though, to be fair, it's the OT who leads the meeting. And there's no assessment or charting done on the patients via the meeting; it's just a space for the patients to vent or voice concerns.

    It sounds like your administration is simply trying to get blood from a stone. You sound like you're run off your feet as it is. Something has to suffer when you are given 50 tasks, all important, and you are only one body. Maybe you can look at combining some of your other tasks to cut down on the amount of time required (I have no specific ideas here) or delegating paperwork somewhere? Is it also mandated that your psych tech holds group? Because if it is a requirement for YOU but not for THEM, then that's an easy fix: you hold group, they do some of your tasks.

    Good luck!

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    I think I'd look at what priorities are and do some monitoring of how long it takes you to do things. Actually put it in writing. Then take the list to your manager and see where she thinks you can fit more in, or what she suggests you eliminate or put further down on the list of priorities.

    Is there anything you can leave for the next shift to finish, such as completing an admission or discharge that arrived or was ordered toward the end of your shift?

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    You will have to assign

    a specific time for your group

    (for example, 11:30am -12noon, 10am - 11am, etc).

    No matter what---

    start your daily

    one group per 8-hour shift

    on-time---

    YES!!!

    Drop everything

    and facilitate your group.

    See how long your group

    remains part of your job

    description.

    Just my two-cents.

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