There’s no time like the present to manage your time at work. Here are a few tips to ensure that you’re providing thorough and confident nursing care.
1. Cluster your care. Take the vital signs, then check your drips. Pairing these two activities will help you not miss anything and help the flow of your activities.
Ask yourself: “What other tasks can I cluster?”
2. Anticipate your next move. Being able to think ahead can help a lot. Knowing what medications to give at what time helps you know how much time is needed to prepare them before giving them.
Ask yourself: “What is the next action in this situation? Why?”
3. Anticipate the patient’s needs. One of the best ways of doing this is to listen to the patient.
Patients know themselves and their bodies better than you do, so listen and trust them.
Ask yourself: “What’s more important for the patient right now?”
4. Take breaks, even when you don’t need to. When you have time, whether you need to or not, go to the bathroom, take a brisk walk, clear your head, eat a snack, drink some water, recoup yourself.
Breaks are vital to increasing productivity and essential for mental concentration, both of which will help you manage your day better.
Ask yourself: “What’s most important for me right now?”
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