nursing daily schedule planner one patient

The cardiologist usually makes rounds about 0800, so you plan to be available to prep the patient for the procedure. You expect that the cardiologist is going to order a cardiac catherization.

Example #3: This patient was admitted for ongoing chest pain and a myocardial infarction has been ruled out.Tell your team members what to expect, so everyone is prepared to answer the patient’s call light quickly. You know that the patient may experience nausea and diarrhea after a dose.

Example #2: This patient is receiving Kayexalate to treat hyperkalemia.By combining the assessment with the medication administration, you will save time. When the results are ready and have been reviewed, you will hang the next bag of Vancomycin. Example #1: This patient had a Vancomycin peak and trough level lab drawn.As you gain experience, you’ll find this easier, but in the beginning, try to plot out everything you’ll need. Every shift is different, but you can start by looking at your patients and figuring out what each will need: medications, labs, procedures, etc.Once a week, take time to declutter and restock. Keep it tidy, with everything in its same place. The same goes for your nursing bag or organizer.

If you can get scrub pants with pockets, always keep the same items in the same pockets. Store alcohol wipes and bandage scissors in the other scrub pocket. Keep your pens and highlighters in the dominant hand scrub pocket. One of the biggest time savers is knowing where to find things in a hurry. Using the Master Timeline as a checklist can keep you on task, without your having to memorize the day’s schedule. If you’re waiting for a lab result before administering a medication, you can calculate when the result will be available and work around it, while passing meds for other patients. You can now plan when to do things for each patient. Combine all of them on the back of the last patient’s reporting sheet - now you have a Master Timeline for the shift. Don’t worry about which meds, procedures, or treatments - for now, just the times. Do the same for when lab results are expected, as well as any scheduled procedures or treatments.

Plan your day! Lay out your timeline by writing when meds are due on the back of each patient’s reporting sheet.

You can locate information quickly, especially if there’s an urgent event. Ludwig suggests using a four-color ballpoint pen to color-code everything: Green for the information you get from the patient’s chart Blue for what you get at shift report Red for what happens during your shift, including labs and vital signs and Black for any orders during the shift. The important thing is to always have the same information in the same place for easy reference. Ask another nurse to share theirs or make your own with Microsoft Word or Apple Pages. Depending on your unit, there are specialized reporting sheets, such as for telemetry, pediatrics, ICU, etc. Sometimes called “nurse brain sheets,” you can find templates online.

Find a reporting tool that works for YOU.

After awhile, you won’t need to do this anymore - but it’s valuable in the beginning. You’ll get some of this later during shift report, but for now, get as much as you need to be familiar with the patients and the charting system. Review your patients’ charts: how are they doing, any new orders, lab results, scheduled procedures, or anything else that will be useful to know. You can’t clock in, but you’ll gain so much by planning your day. While you’re learning the ropes, this is a temporary tip that will help you feel organized and ready for whatever comes your way.

Nursing daily schedule planner one patient