What should I do?

GOMER42 · Jun 19, 2009

Sounds like you need to revamp your organizational skills. What do you do to organize your day?

I don't know what kind of floor you currently work on, although it sounds as though you've always had this problem on every floor you've been on, but I'd make an hourly list first thing in the morning of things I need to do at which times, bold the important ones, and be sure to document within an hour of doing something.

Rather than running to a different floor once the other nurses start noticing your flaw, ask them for advice as to how they do it.

Maybe you've always been slow because you are always re-orienting to a new environment?

caliotter3 · Jun 19, 2009

Maybe you could take some time to go to the desk during the day and do one or two chart entries as the day progresses. Work it into your schedule. But you would have to come up with a way to organize this. As I worked, I would write down the names of the patients (or bed numbers) on my brain sheet that needed charting. Cross off when you have made the chart entry. Take no more than ten minutes on each trip to the desk. Then you won't have so much left at the end of the shift and it should go faster. The time you take to do this will probably come out quite easily from the five minutes here and five minutes there that go wanting during the day.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jun 19, 2009

ask others how they do it. Watch them. Could it be you are spending too much time conversing with patients and family. As bad as that sounds, we have to restrict our interaction in order to get things done. I worked with a nurse once who felt that she ought to stay and talk, or even play checkers. Seemed to rest of us that she was playing a supernurse role and wanting their positive comments to boost her self-esteem. She is working now in PACU and does not get to interact with family as much so is doing better.

leslie :-D · Jun 19, 2009

ask others how they do it. Watch them. Could it be you are spending too much time conversing with patients and family. As bad as that sounds, we have to restrict our interaction in order to get things done.

so, so true, classic.

for yrs i would be chasing my tail and getting out of work soooo late.

once i kept my interactions to a minimum (which is the best part of the job!), i got out on time.

it sounds like this has followed you throughout your career...

and going from job to job, hasn't helped.

time to truly contemplate what is delaying you and make a plan.

best of everything to you.

leslie

Dorito, ASN, RN · Jun 19, 2009

Also, it depends on the type of documentation system you use. Do you chart by exception or do you need to cover every system in detail? Is it computer charting or paper charting? Most of the best charting habits I learned were by reading others charting. Keep it concise and focus most of the info on the system's that are abnormal. Some nurses tend to write a novel and others are almost too brief. It seems since you know the issue that causes the problems it should be fairly easy to fix. Best of luck.

anonymurse · Jun 19, 2009

This problem is susceptible to being worked out through deliberate thought and experimentation. I work 7-7 nights and do written reports. Report sheets used to be something I crammed into the end of the shift. I was sometimes late. Now I start writing them at the beginning of the shift. The instant I learn something about a pt, it goes on the report sheet. That means I don't have a problem forgetting about something when I chart, which is sometimes later in the shift, and the report sheets are 80-90% complete within the first 60-90 minutes of the shift. However, I try to get not only initial assessments, but also once-a-shift assessments done before I pass HS meds, and I frequently succeed. For stable pts without real issues, this means my charting is 80% completed by HS. I also do my 24-hour chart checks as early as possible. At shift change, all I have to do is pen in the AM BS and cardiac rhythims, and reports are done. Yeah, it took a while for me to figure this routine out, but it's worth it. I now have enough free time so I can roam around and help out anyone who's in a crunch. Rarely am I the one in a crunch any more. I'm the most disorganized person I know, so I know you can do it too.

angel_mishi · Jun 19, 2009

arrange ur day by making a schdule from the most important work to least.