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Discussion

time management woes

okay, so i'm on a floor in which i am assigned 5 patients. the floor is a tele floor but most of the patients are pretty much walking, talking med-surg patients (not real high acuity by any means). anyway, i was wondering what kind of advice you would give to a new grad as to how to manage time most effectively and stay organized. any tips are greatly appreciated.

i appreciate it!

:idea:

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  • Expert

when i first started working, what i did was make a list of the things i knew i was going to have to get done during my shift and place them in order that they needed to get done. i referred to the list frequently and as i accomplished things i crossed them off the list. it's very unlikely that anyone is going to hand you a list like this. you are going to have to make it yourself. the time management people call this a todo list. when you start your job you will have to attend some orientation classes. you will be given instructions on the facility policies. pay attention to these since some of them will have an impact on the things you will be putting on your todo list. as time went on i found my computer, particularly my word program, to be extremely helpful to me. i put a todo list into a file and saved it. it was very easy to make additions or subtractions to the list and save them. over the years i also started creating my own report sheets. i'm attaching a copy of my last one. i would print my todo list on the back of these sheets. something that i left off the report sheet that is posted here was extension numbers of the hospital departments or phone numbers of the doctors that i called frequently so that i wouldn't have to look them up all the time. use your computer to it's advantage for you.

  • [attach]5032[/attach] report sheet

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newmn_hte.htm - time management from mind tools

http://www.ehow.com/how_3812_make-list.html - how to make a todo list

http://www.dkeener.com/keenstuff/priority.html - setting priorities

Even for a new grad, 5 walkie-talkie low acuity pts should be pretty easy. That said, how long will you just have 5? Are they going to start gradually giving you more? If so, use this time to get organized and oriented to the pace. Med times, treatment times, how to handle testing, doctors, etc. Then you will have those time frames and things you learned in mind when your pt load starts to go up. Unless you are really lucky and this is all you will ever have. In which case, count your blessing, lol. Not the norm.

I think everyone has their own system as to how to manage time during their shift. I like to write stuff down as I go, in case, I don't have time to chart right away. A lot of interruptions can happen in any given shift. My morning starts like this:

Go over Kardex

Listen to report

Update with RN leaving

check labs

Go assess pts

Pull meds

Give meds and any drs changes, IV changes, etc.

Go back and document

Follow through with any new orders

Reassess pts

Check labs

Document

ETC

ETC

I left out the parts of dealing with family members, pts who are exhibiting problems, doctors, calling doctors, pts going for tests, calling test results, new admission, discharges, etc. These things can throw you off at any given time. Just have to be able to go with the flow and be flexible. Some days are busier than others. I work on a very busy cardiac unit and you never know what's going to hit you next at any given time. Oh...did I mention the codes? LOL..... This is why I try to make little notes as I go along, just in case.

I haven't been on a nursing unit an a couple of years, but my routine was this:

Get report (i used my own type form with reminder boxes on it)

get updates.

check med times - write on form

check orders /check labs

assess patients - medicate as scheduled or as needed

(would usually help patients set up for am care is NA hadn't come in yet)

document assessments

recheck patients

recheck charts for new meds new labs etc

chart any updates.

and so on and so on....

The main key is to keep up on the meds and charting. You will have days that everything will fall to pieces but if you are organized early it won't be as bad.

If you actually have free time as a new grad (not likely), you should look up when you see an experienced nurse and Dr. running. Stick your nose in there any time you see a learning opportunity.

I also work on a tele floor which we have typically five patients. I like to start in the morning and write anything pertinant down on a sheet of paper my brain. Abnormal labs and vitals are in red to pop out at me. I alway make sure to put a history of the patient on my sheet in case of a code. Once I get my morning vitals I see pass meds and do assesments at the same time. I start at 0700 and by 0930-1000 on a good day, I try to sit dow and do my morning charting. Its hard at times but you have to run and see everyone in the am before they start going for test etc... Believe me it gets easier in time but there are days when I can't do my morning charting until 1500 usually I am pulling my hair out by then Good Luck

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