Time management questions

[AnnG_]

I've been reading a lot about nursing in an effort to decide if I really want to go into nursing. I like the helping and teaching aspect of it, and the scientific aspect as well. My biggest concern is all the things nurses have to do in a shift because I am not a good multi-tasker, and tend to be rather slow at doing things. Is time management in nursing something that can be learned?

Also, I've read that some nurses start off the shift behind and are constantly playing catch-up, but others manage fine. Has anyone observed what is it that the nurses who are always behind do to get themselves in that situation? I'm talking about the RNs who are always behind (on a daily basis)--not the occasional things that happen to put you behind.

Thanks in advance for your input!

[llg, PhD, RN]

Sometimes, those people who are chronically behind are people who feel compelled to double-check and triple-check things -- and then check one more time. They are afraid to act, so they delay the action with constant checking and confirming. Thus it takes them twice as long than normal to do every task.

Others are people who "stop a minute to chat" with everyone -- colleagues, patients, visitors, etc. In their minds, they see themselves as friendly and helpful. They see themselves providing the "caring" side of nursing. And they may be right. But they are also taking extra time to get things done as they stop and chat. A few minutes here and there add up throughout the day.

And some people struggle with combining tasks -- such as integrating some of their assessments together instead of doing them 1 at a time.

And other people just move more slowly than most people. It takes them longer to walk down the hall ... go get the medication ... etc.

[AnnG_]

@llg,

Thank you! All of those scenarios are enlightening. I see myself as the "stop to chat" kind of person--which is deadly because I also have trouble cutting people off when they want to chat for extended periods of time. I think I would constantly be working to catch up. Ugh. Worry....

[Susie2310]

My experience and observation is that being well organized and being able to do things in a timely manner comes more naturally to some people than others. If a person is well organized and efficient in their daily life prior to becoming a nurse, from a purely organizational point of view I believe nursing will be a considerably easier career choice than it will be for someone who struggled with organization and time management on a daily basis prior to nursing. We can learn to become better organized and to manage our time more efficiently, but this takes a real desire to change and real effort on our part, and for some people this will always be a struggle. Nursing is a field that requires very good organization, prioritization, and time management; in short, efficiency.