Time Management Strategies for Nurses
Have you ever had a shift that just seemed to fly by? Where you ask yourself, “where did the time go?” Or maybe a shift where the time goes so slowly that you can hear almost every tick of the clock? Where you wonder if you’re ever going to get out of there?
Time is just how we measure things but actually it’s our experience of time that is very different.
According to the commonplace observation of Parkinson’s Law, “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion”. So, things take only as much time as we give them. Therefore, the key is to be present in the moment; decide how long something is going to take and then go do it!
When you think about the task, sometimes it gets overwhelming, and you wonder when you’re going to find time to get to it. Rather than thinking about the task, just do it! Thinking about it will not get it done. Just do it.
Time management is not just a skill, it is a necessity. Here are some things that can help you succeed in your fast-paced practice:
1. Be present in the moment. When you are present in the moment, you’re not thinking about all the things that must be done next or everything that happened in the past. When you’re present in the moment, you can truly concentrate and get the task done rather than thinking about the past or the present.
2. Prioritize patient care. Obviously, your patients come first, but you do need to get the charting in as well. Just do the task and then chart. When you are interrupted, is it something that needs your time immediately or can it wait?
3. Create a structured routine. How do you start your day? Do you get your plan to administer medications and tasks? Take vital signs? What is going to be the most productive use of your time to make your routine flow as easily as possible? Don’t take shortcuts like prefilling your meds and don’t take medication out of the Pyxis because even though you think it’s going to save time, that would be against the facility’s policies and procedures.
4. Delegate tasks. My philosophy is do, delegate or delete. We nurses want to do everything ourselves and hesitate to ask others for help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness! Requesting assistance will help you get your work done in a timely manner and get patients the care they need when they need it.
5. Stay organized. When you are prepared and organized in your work, whether it’s at a desk or a Medcart.
6. Avoid multitasking. When administering meds, performing procedures, or documenting in the chart, multitasking may seem like you’re saving time but, in fact, it increases your likelihood of making mistakes.
7. Take a break to recharge. It seems counterintuitive to take a break when you are so busy, but doing so can help you clear your mind. Stretch, hydrate, or step outside to improve your focus and productivity for the rest of your shift.
8. Reflect and adjust. Take a few minutes to reflect on your day and ask where your time went. Did it go as planned or, if not, what got in the way? How can you adjust and improve your next shift?
9. Take advantage of downtime. Although downtime seems rare in nursing, it does happen occasionally. Use this to catch up on charting, to prepare for upcoming patient care needs, restock supplies, etc. There is always something to do.
Final thoughts: Time management for nurses is a balancing act between patient care, documentation, and self-care. When you take care of yourself, you can take care of others. Prioritizing, delegating, and staying organized can help you work efficiently without compromising patient outcomes.
It’s not just about getting things done, it’s getting the right things done and in a timely manner. This way it supports your patients’ needs as well as your well-being as a nurse.
