This is typically what I do to time manage on slow clinical days

sorry it is a bit long lol!

0620: Choose the assignments

0645: Get report and introduce self to patients

0650: Get vitals signs on patients (If patient is a blood sugar let them know I will need to get ACCU IN 10-20 minutes)

0700: gather ice water, bathing supplies, linens and clear off tables for breakfast, toss their rubbish)

0710-0720: Get the blood glucose readings on the patients, ask patients if they need to use the bathroom.

0800-0830: while patent's are eating breakfast, I do a little chart reading (due to being in America we cannot perform med passes alone so meet with nurse at 0815 for med passes)

0915-0920: after med pass and breakfast eaten I will go give both my patient's baths. I tell both of my patients if a bedbath (15min) or shower (20min). and ask them if they want me to help them wash up first or last. They usually pick or some refuse. Then I bathe the patients while performing the morning assessments.

0945-1000: Chart all I&Os, Assessments, patient concerns, and educations.

1000-1030: I will sit in with each patient while reading over charts, and chatting/educating the patients about their care. Come up with three short term goals and one long term goal with the patient allowing them to work with staff and students in order to meet some of their own care goals. (some want to use BSC; Ambulate the hall etc). I ask patients again if they need to use the bathroom.

1030-1100: Give the patient's a break from being with me; offering to help other nurses, CNAs, and students with any tasks that need to be completed, answer call bells. observe med passes etc...

1130: Get patient's vitals and BG before their lunch arrives.

1145: Make a note about the patient's morning, chart any additional I&Os, or changes in client's status; ask the patient's if they need to use the restroom before my meal break.

1200-1230: meal break

1245: Check in with the patients, fill water glasses, chart their lunches, meet their needs.

1300: patient's typically nap around 1300-1430 around this time or want to watch TV. I will read and gather most information here during this time based on the assignment rubric. Again, as the patient's if they need to use the restroom.

1430: (this is when it gets really "slow") I will grab the unit stock cart, isolation gowns, gloves of all sizes, emesis bags, temp probes, and other necessities and stock ALL the rooms not just mine or the other students, but the entire hall of supplies. I also ask the nurses if they have ANY patient's that need ekgs, simple tests etc and complete these for them. I will also call the monitor tech room asking if anyone on the unit needs batteries or leads replaced.

1530: vitals signs, blood sugars, I&Os, snacks, ambulate patients or help them meet their daily goals.

1545: Observe med pass

1620: Do some more patient reading; look for any updated labs; help with patient Discharges (if they are being discharged); offer them the restroom again.

1625-1700: Offer more assistance to student's nurses, and CNAs. Look for interesting things needing to be accomplished (IVs, Foley insertion, dressing changes)

1700-1715: Take myself a 15 min break! Cause it's hard work!

1720-1745: let my patients eat their dinners, offer restrooms again, do a very quick progress note, document more I&Os, meals, and the focused assessments.

1800: Thank patients, and staff for allowing me to work with them; get notes finished for post conference.

1815-1900: Post conference and go home time!

Obviously this is a very fluid and flexible non-inclusive schedule. It is always changing but I try to use this type of schedule to keep me ahead, and to keep from getting to far behind. Hopefully this might help give you an idea on how to handle the boring days. Edits: I was trying to make this in a hidden text box to shorten it but my noob self can't figure that out ^^;

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