Time Management Ideas

[imanedrn]

As a new grad on med/tele unit, I'm still having a LOT of trouble with time management. Part of my problem is that I went into nursing because I like caring for people - not because I wanted to spend half of my day charting and talking to doctors. This causes me a lot of distress and anxiety. I've created schedules to follow in the past, and they usually help. I haven't done this yet, but - after calling in sick from a migraine & nausea (underlying panic attack... :chair:) last week - I decided I need something more concrete to go from - esp. if it helps remind me to tell my pts I will follow up with them on "less important" matters later - esp. after charting! Anyway... here's a basic schedule I'm hoping to follow. I tried to put in as much as I can think of (some is extra mundane crap for me, just for the sake of planning BEFORE getting to the floor), and I hope to add more as I go...

At Work Schedule

0635-45.......... arrive at hospital

....................... take elevator to floor, fill water mug

0645............... collect Kardexes

....................... make copies of my pt cover sheet

....................... organize Kardexes in breakroom

....................... wait to clock in

0652............... clock in & go to floor

....................... finish organizing

0700-0730...... take report on 6 pts

0730-0800...... print / review labs / test results

....................... review charts for procedures / tasks

....................... prepare handoff reports

0800-1000...... greet pts

....................... pass meds (easy --> hard)

....................... perform initial assessments

1000-1100...... take care of important pt issues

....................... let pts know about today's care plan

....................... let pts know I will be back later

1100............... chart initial & IV assessments

....................... chart notes, other items

1200............... pass meds, perform accuchecks

1300............... HAVE LUNCH

1330............... pass meds

1400............... perform problem focused care

....................... take care of other pt issues

1500............... pass meds

1600............... chart problem focused care

....................... chart notes, other items

1700............... pass meds, perform accuchecks

....................... take care of other pt issues

1800............... chart remaining items, I&O's

1830............... get & sign charts for report

1900............... give report on 6 pts

Any suggestions?? :thankya:

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I would suggest you get to see your patients before 10am as it appears a long time from report to actually viewing all your patients. I start at 7.15am and have normally assessed or seen all my patients by 8am. The night staff normally alert me to abnormal labs, I only need to glance at pt's labs to review before I see my pts.

After pt assessments I normally pass meds. Then I do 10am checks and at 12 I do a full assessment. I chart as I go along. I discuss pt care and plan for day during their assessment and give pt education during passing of meds. I review all my patients every two hours even if I just glance in the room and ask them how they are feeling or if they need pain meds.

[imanedrn]

I would suggest you get to see your patients before 10am as it appears a long time from report to actually viewing all your patients. I start at 7.15am and have normally assessed or seen all my patients by 8am. The night staff normally alert me to abnormal labs, I only need to glance at pt's labs to review before I see my pts.

After pt assessments I normally pass meds. Then I do 10am checks and at 12 I do a full assessment. I chart as I go along. I discuss pt care and plan for day during their assessment and give pt education during passing of meds. I review all my patients every two hours even if I just glance in the room and ask them how they are feeling or if they need pain meds.

Thanks!

I actually do all that before 10am, I just write the task in under the wrong time period.

I still spend a lot of (maybe too much?) time looking at labs & tests/procedures before seeing my patients. I've glanced at them but haven't made full contact (meds & assessments) yet.

[imanedrn]

...oh, and we have to do our initial assessment by 10am. And I'm still having trouble charting as I go along, so - instead - I keep notes in order on a sheet of paper w/ each pt's Kardex. This is why I actually scheduled time to chart - so I can actually make time to do it, instead of just doing it whenever I can.

My biggest problem is that I got into nursing to spend time with people, so I have trouble leaving them when engaged in conversation. I want to build rapport in the morning - not in the afternoon. That's tough for me, which is why I even have to remind myself that I'll be back later for "other" things (that aren't "important" and can truly wait) & to actually tell them this.

Thanks again!