Tips on How to Handle Understaffing and Unsafe Pt Ratios

Jordan Nacalaban, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2022

Hi Baby Nurse!

Congrats on your new job! I can understand your feelings of fear as you start your career as a nurse. It is normal. However, everyone will start somewhere, and beginning as a new nurse will bring plenty of doubts and anxiety.

Based on what you mentioned on the working conditions of the unit, I would put prioritizing and time management on top of your list. For example, if you are assigned six high acuity patients, you can prioritize them based on their health status and needs at the moment. And this list can change throughout the shift.

You'll feel like everything is important and need to be done at once. I did, too, when I started. But when you do that, you'll only be overwhelmed.

Delegate what you can. You can delegate other tasks while taking care of someone going downhill or getting ready for surgery.

Use what you learned in school and the nursing process while applying your clinical judgment to what needs to be done first and next.

Ask for help and clarifications (especially doing something you haven't done before).

Learn as much as you can from your preceptor and other experienced nurses in the unit. Although you said the charge nurse has their own set of patients, they are also a great source of support during your transition.

Remember to breathe. I know we are told - nurses can literally multi-task. But remember to slow down. Doing this can help you focus on the task at hand and avoid making errors.

Take your assigned breaks to reset and recollect.

I wish you all the best in your new career. I started with med-surg when I was a new nurse.