Organization . . . Learn it, love it, live it!
You will need every ounce of this skill when you are flying solo on the nursing floor! Organization is basically the Life Hack of nursing! It will save you hours of work and increase patient satisfaction too! Really anything that makes a patient/family happy is a double win in my book!
So how do we accomplish it??
Organization is such a strong quality of mine and I’ve come to realize that this isn’t necessarily true for lots of others out there, so I’m really hoping this post will help my fellow nurses before getting into those nasty habits of being unprepared!
Having a systematic way of doing things is key to your sanity and success in this field. Now, you may have to alter plans cause life happens, but if your organized from the start with a plan of attack for your shift then you will be in better shape if things go awry.
The first you need is a PEN. Yes a Pen!
I know this seems like an odd first step, because obviously you would have a pen right?! Well all the seasoned nurses are now laughing because you will walk on the unit and have no pen at some point! It throws a wrench in the plans from the start . . . so first step: Have a Pen for report! Really you should have a nursing bag! There are so many great options out there . . . And who doesn’t need another bag! It will houses all your nursing gear, extra pens, badges and report sheets. Basically your survival pack. Everything comes out of it at the beginning of the shift and goes back in when your done. So get a nursing bag that will serve you well.
My go to has always been the Utility bags from Thirty-One Bags! Very roomy with tons of pockets and storage, it has a very large middle compartment for all my gear and clipboard and the best part, it can be totally wiped down after your shift! I’ve had mine for 6 years and it had lasted with no problem.
Moving on . . . Step two, which is getting report. Make sure you have a system to this. Your report is the backbone to your entire shift. Make sure that you get all the information you need to feel comfortable with the patients, don’t be afraid to ask questions or to ask for more details. Remember your responsibility is to the patient. My biggest suggestion is to have a specific form that you use for report every single time you take it. This way you are familiar with what information you want/need to know about the patient load, and also if you have any issues with the patient you know exactly where to find your information to relay to a doctor. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just something that makes sense to you!
I’m going to pause at Step Two and further explain the report sheet and how extremely important it it, so stay with me!
The first thing I really like to do is figure out how I can organize my work load and patient list into a one page form that will serve as my guide. Over the years I have worked many different positions, in some I had one patient at a time, while others I had thirty, so finding out what will work best for you that makes an easy quick reference guide is key! Sometimes I have to trial and error the forms before they are exactly what I need, and sometimes I will take forms from other nurses who have similar ideas and combine them for the perfect fit! Yes, this takes some time and yes, it may be a little over the top for some, but when you need to know if your patient is a DNR or which Antibiotics they are on, while a MD breathing down your neck . . .guess what! Your new fancy form won’t fail you! You will look capable and competent. So trust me, make a form. I included two patient forms that I have used in the past, which might help you get started.
Thank you for staying with me on that one! Now back to our steps . . .
Step three is simply said but maybe harder to accomplish at first . . . work smarter, not harder. Let’s face it we work hard enough! Now that you have your nursing bag and a pen, your new report sheet made out , you can now start to find a daily routine that works best for you. Well, what the heck does that mean?? . . . decide how to organize your day and time.
Maybe its getting report, organizing your patient load by priority of importance for the shift, then going through your medications for each patient. That’s a set routine that will help keep you on track and task focused. Maybe it’s something completely different, but again find a comfortable routine that makes your shift run smoothly.
I have found that adding check boxes next to tasks that can be marked off help keep you motivated and focused. Doesn’t it make you feel good to check off a task and see that it’s completed?? Or is that just me! Or maybe using different color highlighters for tasks you have to complete is more your speed.
There is no right or wrong when it comes to your organizational system!
I want you to remember that this is simply a roadmap of how you want the shift to go, there will be shifts that go completely upside down and you will survive it! The shift will end and you will be ok.
People feel very vulnerable when they are sick and even more so when they are at the hands of someone else’s care. So if you present yourself as a together and organized nurse, it will most likely ease their anxiety. They don’t want to see a disheveled nurse caring for them. You can be the top clinical nurse on your unit, but presentation and first impressions are HUGE when you are caring for the sick. Patients will immediately pick up on the fact that you are scattered, and for most this translates to less then quality care. So remember to have your information straight from the start, be honest with patients if you are unsure of something, but ALWAYS find them the correct answer or point them in the direction of the person who can (ie: Social worker, Dietitian) and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t have the answers.
Make sure your presentation is just as good as the clinical skill set you possess.
Remember there is no right or wrong when it comes to your organization system – just get one! Stay organized. Stay focused. Stay sane.