Time management

[Cmailes]

Hi! I have been an ICU nurse for a little over a year and I still don’t understand how the majority of all the nurses around me get everything done and always leave right after shift report. I am always charting for 30 minutes to an hour and a half (depending on how crazy my shift was) after I do shift report. Even nurses who started with me and are at the same level don’t stay late. I cannot figure out what they are doing unless it’s what they are not doing that gets them more time. Does anyone have any tips or tricks that you have found that improved your time and efficiency? 

[Nurse Pompom]

I always chart my physical assessment first thing. Short of someone dying, I'll always get it done. Saves me ton of time. I also really try charting in real time. When I can give all my meds at the same time, I do (for example, daily meds can be given within 2 hours of their prescribed time in my hospital). Thirdly, I think ahead and think about what I will need to get for my patient, so that I don't walk miles in one shift. They are probably more efficient than you when it comes to time management. It doesn't make you bad btw. It's just a learning curve.

[traumanightsRN, NP]

I agree with the above poster. I always put my assessments in first thing and hoped to have both in by 2000-2030. Then chart in real time. I planned my baths and wound care always for 2200. That way if crap hit the fan I had the important stuff in and done. You gotta find your own groove. If I got an admission at the beginning or end of a shift my coworkers would usually put in the initial assessment for me. If you are caught up with a patient always ask for help. But really, really try to get your initial assessment in first thing. That will help tons. 

[AlwaysSunny, DNP, CRNA]

Do you have EPIC EMR? Because there is a “copy last assessment” function that is ***chef’s kiss*** to die for. 

[HP Nelson CPC CPCO CCS]

3 hours ago, Lfrey said:

Do you have EPIC EMR? Because there is a “copy last assessment” function that is ***chef’s kiss*** to die for. 

OMG, worst advice ever! I mean, yeah, you CAN do this if every single detail is identical. But auditors (like me) see this a mile away and you WILL get dinged for it.

[AlwaysSunny, DNP, CRNA]

53 minutes ago, HP Nelson CPC CPCO CCS said:

OMG, worst advice ever! I mean, yeah, you CAN do this if every single detail is identical. But auditors (like me) see this a mile away and you WILL get dinged for it.

And?

[MunoRN, RN]

On 8/18/2022 at 6:27 PM, HP Nelson CPC CPCO CCS said:

OMG, worst advice ever! I mean, yeah, you CAN do this if every single detail is identical. But auditors (like me) see this a mile away and you WILL get dinged for it.

And it's auditors like this that cause nursing time to be taken away from patient care that contributes to patient safety in order to make auditors happy, and causes patient harm solely for the purpose of making these sociopathic "auditors" happy.

[chare]

11 hours ago, HP Nelson CPC CPCO CCS said:

15 hours ago, Lfrey said:

Do you have EPIC EMR? Because there is a “copy last assessment” function that is ***chef’s kiss*** to die for. 

OMG, worst advice ever! I mean, yeah, you CAN do this if every single detail is identical. But auditors (like me) see this a mile away and you WILL get dinged for it [emphasis added].

Dinged for what, exactly?  

You do realize that the copy function that @AlwaysSunny referred to isn't a nusing work around don't you?  Not only was it designed by Epic, they advocate its use as a time saving function.

While I disagree with how he said it, I do understand why @MunoRN wrote what he did.  What I don't understand is why you, as  non-nurse, would come here and post what you did.  If youtr goal is "gaining  more clinical knowledge," as you posted here, which I agree with, posts like this one aren't going to help.

[Cmailes]

On 8/18/2022 at 2:34 PM, AlwaysSunny said:

Do you have EPIC EMR? Because there is a “copy last assessment” function that is ***chef’s kiss*** to die for. 

Yes I use EPIC! Is this different than just right clicking and copying the column to a new time? If so, where is that feature at in epic on the flow sheet tab?

[chare]

1 hour ago, Cmailes said:

Yes I use EPIC! Is this different than just right clicking and copying the column to a new time? If so, where is that feature at in epic on the flow sheet tab?

As Epic varies from facility to facility based on customization, this is likely what you are already doing.  At my facility this option is called "copy column to another column."  When using this option we are unable to copy the previous nurses data, nor can we copy our own assessment from a previous shift 

If you have multiple items selected in a cell that won't copy using the copy column option, you can click into the cell and copy and paste using the control c and control v options. 

Alternatively if you prefer the keyboard, rather than the mouse, you can click into a empty cell and start typing.  As soon as the predictive text function finds what you were typing you can enter a semicolon and start typing the next item you want to select in that cell.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I agree with the other posters who stated to get that assessment done first. For me, it helps to stop after I get report, to map out my day (based on the pts plan for the day- imaging trips, labs, meds, etc) I use 1 brain per Pt and 1 brain with meds / labs for each pt, in a column for each Pt)

I enter the room ready to do physical assessment, glucose checks and will likely also do a turn, oral care, temp check, etc. then I might chart and then go to the other pts room to do the same.