time management

[melissa3770]

I am a new nurse who decided to work in a longterm care facility because you learn the residents who do not change like the hospital and was wondering about time management because I have 22 residents with alot of insulin issues besides 2 med passes on my shift and wound care along with 2 cna's. I want to be good at what I do but I am finding that there is so much to remeber to accomplish plus the added orders and phone calls to families and doc's. I find that when I work on the weekends I am okay but when I add on the additional component related to new orders which can be alot then I always forget something not patient meds or wound care it is more related to putting in the new order etc... Does anyone have any advice because I have only been by myself on the floor for a week (4 shifts) I do not want to make a mistake and lose my job. Help please.

melissa

[caliotter3]

Time management skills come with experience. I made myself a list of steps to take for different situations and kept this info in a little "examples" binder. If there are four places to chart or deal with when you receive a new order, write down those four steps and use this as a checklist. Also, start as early as you can to give yourself more time for med passes. As time goes on, start to cut back until you find a reasonable start time that works for you. I always did as much as possible as early as possible in the shift so that there was time for things that just come up. Don't let everything pile up to the end. Chart as you go as much as possible. The less charting for shift end, the less you are likely to leave something out. As you go along you will be able to pick up other pointers from people that you work with.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Ask other nurses how they manage. You will get a different answer from each person but they might give you ideas.

I googled "time management nurses" and got several hits. You might try those too.

I found it easier to keep a little grid divided by the hours of the day and room numbers. Then I would have my own shorthand

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

When I first started what really helped me to figure out who got a fingerstick with insulin is on a seperate sheet of paper write it out. But be careful because some residents have a different sliding scale. Mine don't so this worked for me.

I would forget about the meds and just go about and do the finger sticks. Those have to be done before a meal. Knock them out of the way before you touch the meds. I sometimes still go back to this if its 4:15 and I just got out of report and haven't even touched the meds yet. Assemble everything you need, glucometer, alcohol wipes, gloves, lancets, strips, insulin, needles, etc. And go in room order. If the resident isn't in there.. skip them and find them after.. just keep moving, go on a goose chase for them after you finish the list.

Residents name ....F/S value.. Units of insulin given.

Mary Smith 226 4 units -Regular

John Jones 120 no coverage given

Sally Green 440 10 units Regular insulin given .. MD notified.. 4 additional units given as per MD order

You become better at what you do with time. Weekends are good to get a routine down and holidays too(love holidays where I work.. no doctors, no administration, no issues lol). There will always be something you forget. If its very important don't be afraid to call back to the unit and let them know.