Why are some RNs rarely busy, while others are always busy

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Is the RN who is not busy all the time a better nurse, more organized, and efficient? Or is the busy RN the better nurse? I've seen RNs who are never busy, but others nurses say they are horrible nurses.

Sometimes it's about self-imposed level of detail. I know there are some super efficient nurses who have figured out a routine that gets them in and out of rooms quickly. They're good nurses, but they are focused on what NEEDS to be done and what they NEED to know to do it.

Other nurses aren't comfortable unless they know everything about a patient. They'll look through the H&P, read the consultation notes, trend the labs, etc. They are the ones who notice slight discrepancies, and get orders cleaned up on the patients who have been there for two weeks. They are thorough and conscientious, but not fast.

Still other nurses are magnets for the talkative patients and get sucked into rooms for extended amounts of time because they can't bear to shut down the little old lady who wants to talk. Therapeutic communication is time consuming.

There are nurses who delegate anything they can possibly delegate, and nurses who get mired down in patient care because they don't delegate enough. Both extremes can be troublesome.

I'm always busy, but not always stressed. If I have a tough assignment, I'll focus on the must-dos. I'll get the essential tasks done, but when shift change comes, I'll let the oncoming nurse know that report is going to be a game of telephone: I'm passing on what the previous nurse told me because I haven't verified patient history, previous imaging, labs, etc. If I have an easier assignment, I'll read more notes and try to get a sense of the bigger picture. I'll check to see whose IV tubing might be expired or expiring soon, and prime a fresh one before shift change. I'll get dressing changes done that might otherwise fall on the next shift. I'll ask other nurses if I can help with any of their tasks. I'll check my work email and actually read the attachments.

There is always something to do, and I suck at just sitting around. My shift goes faster if I'm busy.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

turtles - great summary.

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22 hours ago, turtlesRcool said:

There are nurses who delegate anything they can possibly delegate, and nurses who get mired down in patient care because they don't delegate enough. Both extremes can be troublesome.

This is a big one. I generally will do anything I have time to do, even if it's part of the tech duties or another nurse's patient, but if I'm busy I don't mind asking the tech to go clean up poopy pants in room such and such or the nurse at the desk if they have time to give pain meds to someone.

Also, accepting help. If you're busy and feeling stressed and someone asks if they can help you then LET THEM.

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4 hours ago, SansNom said:

Also, accepting help. If you're busy and feeling stressed and someone asks if they can help you then LET THEM.

I love accepting help when offered, but it has to match up with a time when I have something to delegate. Like at the end of a crazy shift, I need to call doctors about something, I need to return the patient family phone calls I couldn't take earlier in the shift, I need to chart all the stuff I did back when I was running around too nuts to chart it. Unfortunately, that's all stuff I need to do myself. I still appreciate the offer of help, but a lot of times the things I need to do are things I need to do myself.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.

I used to work with someone who always looked busy, she never seemed to sit for long. We were in a NICU and it could be crazy, steady or boring, depending on your assignment that night. Well one night we were in the same room so I got a chance to watch her to see why she always seemed so busy, and what I found out was she "picked" at the babies all night long. If a baby spit up a little she was in there changing the bed, or rearranging the bed or doing SOMETHING to bug the kid. I learned to let sleeping babies sleep. A little spit-up wasn't going to hurt them, you could always tuck a washcloth under their chin without waking them if you absolutely felt the need, no need to do a full bed change. I learned something that night, that the nurses who understood developmental care left the babies alone, and the ones who couldn't stand sitting down and just letting them be weren't really the best nurses after all (as was her reputation).

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Specializes in NICU.

This can not be split into two categories,there is much more to it.Look towards the ones that go the extra mile,and I do not mean chatting up the patient and their family.

I worked with one that appeared busy ,got so many gifts from patients, WOW! ,.... then you go looking for her because all her alarms were going off,and you would find her sitting comfortably chatting with patient.

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On 4/20/2020 at 11:43 PM, Leader25 said:

This can not be split into two categories,there is much more to it.Look towards the ones that go the extra mile,and I do not mean chatting up the patient and their family.

I worked with one that appeared busy ,got so many gifts from patients, WOW!! ,.... then you go looking for her because all her alarms were going off,and you would find her sitting comfortably chatting with patient.

Yeah but those are the ones that get the CNN profile of the day segment about them.

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Specializes in IMC.
2 hours ago, DesiDani said:

Yeah but those are the ones that get the CNN profile of the day segment about them.

Yes! And those are the nurses that become nurse managers.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Transplant, Intermediate Care.

I worked with her, too! Only she added online shopping and texting with her kids to the mix...

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On 4/18/2020 at 2:14 PM, turtlesRcool said:

Other nurses aren't comfortable unless they know everything about a patient. They'll look through the H&P, read the consultation notes, trend the labs, etc. They are the ones who notice slight discrepancies, and get orders cleaned up on the patients who have been there for two weeks. They are thorough and conscientious, but not fast.

This isn't always true. I'm all three.

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There's a lot of good tips here and smart "what not to do advice".

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Specializes in Dialysis.
5 hours ago, Beatlefan said:

I worked with her, too! Only she added online shopping and texting with her kids to the mix...

Oh, dear, she's currently working at a neighboring dialysis clinic. The manager thinks she's great. Coworkers on the floor, not so much

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