Which job is better for someone with poor time management skills?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

It would take more information and context to helpfully answer your question "Which specialty is better for a med-surg nurse who is poor in time management, med-surg neuro or med-surg renal? "

Time-management is a widely-used catch-all term that's not always specific or descriptive. Is this a label or feedback someone gave you? "Poor time-management skills" can mean a new grad who wasn't given a long enough orientation or a nurse assigned too many patients to care for safely.

Sometimes "poor time-management skills" is really a lack of prioritization or reluctance to delegate.

It may mean a nurse who isn't suited to the constant multi-tasking and cognitive-stacking demands of acute care and would find a better fit in any number of roles such as hospice, home health, informatics, or school nursing, to name just a few.

Having said that, for a med-surg nurse who struggles with time management, med-surg renal might be a better fit due to the more predictable nature of patient care and routine interventions. The chronic nature of renal conditions often allows for a more structured and manageable workflow compared to the often urgent and unpredictable needs of neuro patients.

However, it is also essential to consider personal interests and career goals. If you are particularly interested in neuro or planning on improving your time management skills, you might still thrive in a neuro setting. Consider shadowing nurses in both specialties, if possible, to get a firsthand understanding of the workflow and demands.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth