Six Time Management Tips For Nurses

Nursing Is A Demanding Job That Comes With Lots Of Challenges And Responsibilities. Jumping Into Nursing Entails Staying Alert, Multitasking, And Making Decisions Fast Moreover, You Can Expect To Take Extended 12-Hour Shifts Sometimes With Overtime And A Staff Shortage.

Time Management Skills Are Vital To Optimize Performance, Improve Focus, And Deliver Quality Care To Patients.Nurses Who Lose Track Of Time May Undergo Anxiety And Workplace Stress. However, By Adopting And Following Time Management Skills, You Can Stand Out And Avail Rewarding Career Opportunities.

Here Are The Six Top Time Management Tips That Can Help You To Become A Seasoned Nurse.

Kickstart Your Day Early

An Early Arrival Of Ten To Fifteen Minutes Before Your Shift Starts Can Save Your Day From Workplace Stress.Starting Your Day Early Reduces The Chances Of Surprises And Helps You Get To Know What Today Has In Store For You. By Scheduling Your Duties, You Can Make The Most Out Of The Day.

A Handful Of Medical Supplies At Your Disposal Before Clocking In Will Help You Manage Your Time Effectively. Make Sure You Use This Time To Collect Essential Medical Items Such As Scissors, Alcohol Swabs, Medicine Cups, Saline Flushes, Tape, Pens, Etc.

Nurses Who Are Better At Time Management During Studies Are Quick To Learn The Ropes. For Instance, Online Medical Programs Such As Bsn Online Programs By UTA Trains Professionals To Continue Their Education With A Job And Effectively Manage Their Time.Moreover, When You Learn The Importance Of Managing Time, You Won’t Be Rushed At The Last Moment Or Be Late At Performing Essential Medical Procedures During Your Shift.

Plan Your Day Ahead

Planning A Day Is The Best Time Management Tip You Can Rely On To Improve Your Work Performance And Efficiency. Start Your Shift By Compiling A List Of Tasks That You’re Expected To Perform That Day.

Fill In Details By Reading The Patients’ Reports And Noting Down The Things You Must Complete That Day.For Instance, You May Need To Complete Documentation Of A Patient Who Will Be Discharged Soon.

Highlight Those Details And Complete The Procedure Before Your Shift Ends. Include The Details In Your Checklists, Such As Medication Administration, Medical Treatments, And Policies.You Can Keep Yourself Motivated And Stay On Track For A Day After Putting A Cross On Your Checklist After Getting Done With The Task.

Prioritise Your Tasks

Be Realistic About Your Goals And What You Can Achieve In Due Time. Make Sure To Mention Deadlines When Making A List Of Critical Tasks.

Then, Rank Assigned Duties Based On Priority And Urgency And Complete Them Accordingly. Set Deadlines And Make Sure To Follow Them For Time Management.You Can Use Reminders To Complete Your Duties Within Time. Finish Off The Assigned Tasks First And Move On To Take The Following Assignments Afterward.

Delivering Tasks On Time Can Reinforce Your Achievement And Allow You To Perform Duties With Attention Without Taking Pressure.Meanwhile, When You Can Judge And Anticipate What Is More Important, It Will Help Reduce Interruptions And Distractions.

Be Organised

Unlike Other Professions, Nurses Cannot Control Their Workspace, And There Is Always A Chance Of Surprise In The Form Of An Emergency. Spending Your Time Organizing And Handling Things Professionally Will Eventually Pay Off.If You’re Organized, You May Feel You Have More Time Than Others. In This Case, You Complete Tasks More Efficiently And Track Your Resources And Workflow.

Following An Organised System Backed By Your Employer Helps You Move Forward In The Right Direction Without Wasting Your Time.For Instance, Streamline Medical Administration By Grouping The Medicines With Other Tasks Such As Changing The Dressing, Bathing, Etc.

Anticipate The Needs Of Patients

Knowing What Can Go Wrong Or What You Will Need In The Future Helps Deliver Quality Services To The Patients. Meeting The Needs Of The Patients Before They Ask Is An Excellent Way To Save Time During Rush Hours.

For Instance, While On A Round Trip To A Medical Ward, Ask Patients Whether They Need Something Or Would Like To Have A Glass Of Water. Getting These Tasks Done During Slow Hours Will Clear Your Way To Manage Your Duties During Emergencies.Moreover, Anticipating The Needs Of Patients And Taking Medical Supplies Along With You Also Cuts Down Unnecessary Trips To Different Departments.

Learn From Experience

Nursing Teaches A Lot. Through Experience, You’ll Learn That You Spend More Time Spiking An IV Bag Or Priming An IV Slash Than Others. That’s Okay.

Experience Allows You To Practice Medical Procedures Repeatedly, And In Return, You Become Competent Enough To Deliver Medical Aid At A Fast Pace.

In Addition, Delegating Your Tasks To Assistant Nurses Is The Best Way To Manage Your Time Effectively. With Experience Comes The Ability To Make The Best Use Of Valuable Resources Like Assistant Nurses. A Good Resource Such As A Nursing Assistant Can Improve Your Life At The Workplace.

Don’t Overdo Things

Last But Not Least, Don’t Overburden Yourself With Unrealistic Demands. Balance Is The Key To Attaining And Sustaining Success In The Long Run.To Optimize Your Workflow At The Workplace, Don’t Pressure Yourself To Become A Pro At Everything You Do. Be Vigilant But Not At The Expense Of Your Physical And Mental Health.

Consider Completing Your Tasks On An Hour-To-Hour Basis, But Don’t Go For It All At Once. When You Feel Rushed To Complete Your Tasks To Save Time, It Increases The Chances Of Errors Causing You Stress And Exhaustion.Learn To Say No And Take Responsibility When You Are Wrong. It Will Help You To Stay Committed To Your Profession And Pave The Way For Professional Growth In The Future.

Conclusion

Self-Awareness Creates Positive Outcomes And Helps In Removing Obstacles To Achieving Professional Competency And Effective Time Management.Promoting Good Workplace Habits Sets The Tone For High Job Satisfaction. Whenever You Need A Break Or An Off, Ask Your Supervisor Or Colleague To Arrange An Alternate. You Know Yourself More Than Anyone, So Take Your Health Seriously.

Time Management Not Only Improves Your Work Life But Also Fosters And Strengthens Your Personal Life.Keeping A Balance Between Work And Family Life Makes You Feel More Energetic And Motivated To Achieve Your Life Goals.