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A career in nursing can be highly rewarding but also a bit overwhelming. Nurses are often assisting people when they are at their most vulnerable and generally have to be able to think and work quickly due to the nature of critical medical services. Nurses also often work very long shifts and the combination of this plus the level of care patients need can lead to high levels of stress and burnout. There are things that nurses can do that will help them to manage their time effectively and that will also assist them with feeling less stressed and lead to a better work-life balance. Practicing time management skills can also lead to better patient outcomes, shorter wait times for care and may lead to increased efficiency for an organization overall. You can start practicing your time management skills during your nursing program at Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology and get a head start on your success before entering into your career.
Get and Stay Organized
As a nurse you should take the time to make sure your workstation is clean and organized and that all of the necessary files are easily accessible. In addition, you will want to make sure that your electronic records and files are also well organized so that you can get to them as fast as possible when needed. Organization also involves planning out each day and making sure that everything that needs to be completed is carefully laid out and highlighting any high priority tasks.
Prioritize Tasks
In nursing, many tasks can be considered high priority but there are definitely those tasks that are more pressing and that need to be attended to before other tasks can be completed. A prioritized list can help a nurse determine what is most important and why especially when it comes to patient needs and leads to better organization overall. Nurses often have to be skilled at multitasking due to the number of tasks that need to completed and the likelihood of multiple interruptions throughout the day.
Take Breaks
In this fast-paced career where the list of things to get done never ends it is often tempting for a nurse to just keep going and going and skip breaks and self-care. In order to provide the best care, nurses need to make sure that they also take care of themselves. Taking breaks allows you to unwind even if it is just for a short time and can help reduce stress that so often leads to burnout.
Stay Flexible
As a nurse you can pretty much always expect the unexpected so it is key to be able to shift to meet those unexpected and urgent demands. It is always a good idea to create an organized plan for the day but because of the unpredictability of healthcare one cannot rely upon being able to complete the day’s list of tasks as planned. In the event that an important item on your list does not get completed during your shift, you can ask for help from someone else on your team.
Delegate
Nurses have the option to delegate tasks to other personnel as dictated in a guide provided by the American Nurses Association. There are a number of tasks that can be assigned to other individuals on your team and who these tasks get delegated to will depend upon their level of complexity in related to overall patient care. Delegation of tasks can help with team building as well as promote a positive work environment based on trust.
Getting Started
Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology offers two programs to help you get started on your nursing career journey. The Associate of Science degree in Nursing provides the skills and training that one would need to become a registered nurse and find an entry level position in a healthcare facility. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing provides a more immersive experience for individuals who are looking to go in to a more specialized area of nursing and includes three tracks for students to choose. The BSN program helps provide students with skills for both entry level positions as well as for leadership and supervisory roles. Explore the possibilities that await you at Cambridge College by visiting our website to learn more. You can also fill out the Request Info form and provide your contact information so we can reach out to you. We hope you will consider Cambridge for your educational partner in this exciting career field.