Time Management Tips for New Nurses

Reflect on your current time management skills and identify areas for improvement. Common issues include rushing, forgetting tasks, overtime, lack of breaks, needing constant help, and feeling overwhelmed. Use this insight to set SMART goals in later modules (Goal-Setting Theory).

“Rushing to get everything done at the end of your shift or forgetting to complete tasks.”

Inquire about procedures, potential discharges, time-sensitive labs, and special treatments during shift handover. Habit Stacking: After receiving the patient assignment, ask key questions.

“Be sure to ask questions about if that patient's going to be going for any procedures if they may possibly be discharged if they have any time sensitive Labs.”

Develop a sheet to track medication times, treatments, procedures, and doctor's orders. Use it as a 'brain' to organize the day's workflow. Implementation Intention: 'If I finish report, then I will create a daily task sheet.'

“Create a sheet to help you keep track of your day. This will help you organize how your day will flow.”

Establish specific times for completing assessments, medication passes, and physician orders. Apply SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to each task (Goal Setting Theory).

“Set individual times of when something should be completed... at 7:00 I would make sure that I started rounding on my patients doing my um shift assessment... by 9:30 my goal was to have all my shift assessments documented and completed.”

Group tasks with medication passes (IV changes, baths, linen changes) to save time. Consider hospital policies on medication timing. Loss aversion: Points are deducted if not completed by specified time

“Group your tasks together... say you're going to go see this patient they have a whole bunch of meds to give but they also need their IV changed out they need a bath they need their Linens changed and they need to get up to the bedside chair so what you need to do is give them their meds and do all that together.”

Focus on completing tasks one hour at a time, prioritizing the most important items. Remember that you're part of a 24-hour facility. Deep breathing exercise is incorporated to mitigate anxiety.

“Take it hour by hour... at 8 I'm going to try to get this done and by 9 hopefully I can get this done and um try to get the most important things done but remember this is a 24-hour facility.”

Recognize that proficiency in nursing skills improves with practice, leading to better time management. Consider nurse assistant experience for nursing students. Implementation Intention: If I feel frustrated, then I will acknowledge my progress

“Most new nurses what really slows them down and affects their time management skills at first is just learning how to do those uh routine nursing skills.”

Connect with a more experienced nurse for mentorship and support in time management strategies. Social cognitive theory.