Tips for Organizing Myself?

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

Hi all...

I am a brand new nurse in a LTC facility. I have a great team to work with, supportive and kind. My preceptor is laid-back and very sweet. I am training on days to be the evening charge nurse. I love the job so far and am excited and proud to be an LPN...

So far, I have done the finger sticks and insulins on the day shift, and a few other meds and treatments, some basic charting to get the feel of things. Each day the preceptor gives me a bit more. So far so good...

The other med nurses have a really hard time with the heavy med pass. There are 40 residents and everyone says it is the 'worst' med pass in the building. My problem is that there is so much going on I can't seem to mulit-task as needed. Yesterday a doctor was talking to me while I was drawing up insulin and trying to chart it, we use electronic charting right at the cart, the resident was asking me what his blood sugar was and the hallway was full of PT's, other residents calling out, people asking for water or their pills or to go home...CNA's back and forth...you know the usual chaos...and I forgot to pass on the message to the charge nurse from the doctor. The doc didn't realize I was new I guess. Luckily it wasn't a big deal, but still...how will I ever get used to all this? I'm the type who studies in dead silence and easily gets distracted!

Anyway, any tips on how to organize my self? A clipboard? Notebook? What do I do to remember all the little details?

[Reese17]

First of all congratulations on graduating and getting a job! Im also a new nurse working LTC...what I do is I keep a small notepad in my pocket to jot down notes, also I have a census sheet w me on my cart so when a doc, DON, or CNA tells me something about my residents I write it down next to their room number on my census sheet along with the time they gave me this info just in case I need to chart. I also keep a clipboard at the nurses desk w a timeframe of what needs to be done....its challenging in the beginning but eventually you will find what works for you and learn to prioritize, just remember your ABC's, pain, cardiac, diabetics come first everything else can wait...Good Luck!

[MassED, BSN, RN]

clipboard would work - jot down some notes with a time to help you stay organized. It'll get easier.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

First of all congratulations on graduating and getting a job! Im also a new nurse working LTC...what I do is I keep a small notepad in my pocket to jot down notes, also I have a census sheet w me on my cart so when a doc, DON, or CNA tells me something about my residents I write it down next to their room number on my census sheet along with the time they gave me this info just in case I need to chart. I also keep a clipboard at the nurses desk w a timeframe of what needs to be done....its challenging in the beginning but eventually you will find what works for you and learn to prioritize, just remember your ABC's, pain, cardiac, diabetics come first everything else can wait...Good Luck!

good advice!

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

great advice! Thank you