Check in on patients at shift change while getting report and do an assessment on the last patient you get report on while you're there. Cluster care, meds, and assessments. Try to see the 'easy' patients first. The patients you're going to need to spend more time with; see them later. Better to be late with meds on one patient than get stuck in a room for an hour at the beginning of your shift causing you to run around with your hair on fire. Meds due at 9 and you have an hour leeway? I start giving them out at 8. Delegate what you can and follow up. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you're drowning. Help out others when you can. Find a nurse brain you like and use it.
^ great answer. However, if you’re in tele / Med surge for a while and still struggle, try and find something else. Try icu… it’s not as crazy as it sounds. 2 patient care (CA), maintain drips and give meds either PO or NG/OG/PEG. The complexity of their condition is worse, however, you have less patients and more time to spend with each.
Set alarms, lots of alarms:) Keep your patient handoffs updated and in sections. Background, assessment, tests/labs, meds, discharge plan, details that happen during shift so you can chart easily. Make sure to either chart or make a note of doctor interactions. Ask lots of questions and for help. Breathe. Help out your peers and don’t sweat things not getting done exactly on time, it rarely does!! :)
Make a checklist :) it worked for me.
Depends on what part of organized you mean. I staple some sticky notes to my report sheet. I write down important times things need to be done
Things to F/u on another, etc.
Keeping a clipboard is a good idea too because things disappear sometimes
Chang it all up and see what works for you. What works for me might drive you crazy
