Too much to do for ONE PERSON, staying late to catch up

Nurses General Nursing

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I feel like I don't have enough hours in the day to do everything I need to do at work. There are always patients and family members needing everything to be perfect. And then you have sooo much charting to do. And then you get discharges and admissions. And then you're behind on all of the medications you have to give. And then you're unable to start an IV or draw blood. ETC. ETC. I feel like it's incredibly too much to do for just 1 person. I put on a fake smile at work when deep down inside I'm screaming and crying at how much I have to do. I can never get things done when I want to. I want to finish charting or finish doing something else but then other things pop up and I'm completely interrupted. I'm always the type of person who needs to finish something right then and there. It truly bothers me. I don't even have enough time to just spend a little time sitting with the patient and actually caring for them. I'm always in and out of the room because of all the things that need to be done before the end of the shift. I feel horrible. Please give me some encouraging words or relatable stories.

I have to stay late just to finish charting. How late do you stay at work??

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
You MUST manage and prioritize your interruptions. If I'm pulling scanning, administering meds, i do not answer my phone. If its that important, they'll call back. i have never gotten in trouble for not answering my phone as others have because I have a good track record with answering, while a handful nurses choose to not answer when they are in the middle of everything, which is nearly all the time! If you have computers in each room or WOWs, try charting on the patient while standing in the room of that patient, usually after first med pass. You will not get interrupted by other coworkers, and I've found that if you tell patients, "I'm going to enter information about you into the computer. It will take about ten minutes," they usually won't bother you. If I get a call from another patient while charting, I set time expectations and keep to it. "What do you need? Ok, I'll be there in 15 minutes. Thank you in advance for your patience." I routinely break the stupid rule of not telling patients that I have other patients. Ex: I pass meds to one patient who wants a water refill. I get a call about pain meds for another patient. " I have a patient who is in pain. let me go see him, then I'll bring you water, ok?" Most patients are VERY understanding, and I've never had a complaint on my explanations. HOWEVER, I have had a complaint about a patient who had to wait for something, and when I went to the room for recovery, he said to me, "Oh, no one told me you were busy with an emergency! If I had known, I wouldn't have been such an ass."[/quote']

^Well said; to ToothFairy as well.

I have been utilizing these straggles for over 10 years in ANY capacity...from tech, to LPN, to RN...works every time :yes:

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I try my best not to stay late. If I stay pass 15 min. then I'm annoyed. The later you stay the more stressed out you are and the more you are prone to making more mistakes. After 12-13 hours, my brain is done. As long as my patients are pink and breathing and I charted the more important things I did, then I'm fine with that. Nursing is 24/7.

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I try my best not to stay late. If I stay pass 15 min. then I'm annoyed. The later you stay the more stressed out you are and the more you are prone to making more mistakes. After 12-13 hours, my brain is done. As long as my patients are pink and breathing and I charted the more important things I did, then I'm fine with that. Nursing is 24/7.

I can't help it if I have to stay late because I'm waiting to give report to 2-3 nurses. They don't always come on time either and/or they're dilly dallying. I get annoyed, but I have to at least give report before I leave.

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It's like that for me as well and the further behind I get the more overwhelmed I get. Our hospital just keeps requiring more and more out of us. Everyone on our floor usually has to work over finishing up giving report, charting, last minute pain med requests, etc. I second the charting in the room. I used to sit at the desk (it's so nice to just sit occasionally) but everyone interrupted me for everything including help with patients that weren't even mine because no one else was around. I was also afraid the patients would think of more stuff for me to do while in there but it's actually the opposite. Sometimes they think of something more but because I take care of it right then and spend a little time with them they aren't constantly on the call light 20 min later. Patients have stated they appreciate the fact they don't feel ignored (even though while I'm standing there charting as they talk I kind of am ignoring them a little it doesn't feel like it so much apparently). Also, it's nice to have the computer right there so I can update them on labs, etc and that way they feel informed. Some patients I will chart right outside the room if need be but I try to do it right away. Sometimes it doesn't happen due to emergencies, stat orders, etc but it's my goal.

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Specializes in telemetry, ICU.

I feel exactly the same way! I am a new grad on a med/surg tele floor, they give us up to 6 pts. It's too much, especially with how sick theses people are! It is such a heavy work load, I am lucky if I get a lunch break most days. I don't understand how they can staff us like this then give us all the total care, isolation, confused, accucheck, q2 turn, wound care, colostomy, PEG tube feedings all in one patients (literally had two of those last shift). It's ridiculous. Everyone on my floor mentions leaving as soon as they can, and I can see why. I want to get out ASAP. and yet I work at a magnet facility...I don't know how it's possible?!

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