Time management for nurses

time management tips

Time management for nurses is an important skill for nurses, nursing students, as well as many other individuals.

Why is time management for nurses so important?

Nurses lead a very hectic schedule. You will care of several patients during your shift.

Patient care may include:

  • administering medications, both scheuled and as needed (prn) (Note: Remember the 5 rights of medication administration)
  • admitting a new patient or discharging a patient
  • nursing assessments
  • nursing documentation
  • writing a nursing care plan
  • other tasks such as dressing changes, answering call bells, listening to and contributing in physician and nurse practioner rounds, obtaining and processing physician or nurse practitioner orders, patient and family teaching, and a variety of other nursing interventions

 



Nursing students will provide patient care, as well as complete a variety of assigments. As a nursing student, time management skills are extremely important.

It is important to manage your time from the beginning of your day as you never know when a patient's status may change. Leaving all of your nursing documentation until later in the day can lead to a mad rush at the end of your shift.

Learning time management for nurses as a student will help you later on in your nursing career. These same time management skills are important for your study habits. Time management skills can play a significant part in students completing assignments on time, grades, getting enough sleep, and having free time which we all need. Find a happy balance now and help avoid nurse burnout.


General time management skills are important for everyone. Whether you work fulltime or part time, in your home or outside the home, are a student, or a stay at home parent, you will need to know how to manage your time.

When it comes to maintaining your home, from cleaning to paying bills, to grocery shopping and cooking, the Fly Lady has great tips to help. As a working mother, wife, and nursing student I have not applied all of the fly lady techniques, but what I have used has been helpful. Having a schedule (even if you have to change it up a bit now and then) can help keep you on track. Sign up for the fly lady's email reminders and tips as well.

One thing that I have found very helpful is planning out my meals for the week on sunday mornings. We try not to do a large shopping trip each week, but going on sunday for fresh bread, vegetables and anything we need for meals for the week is a time saver later. I also find we eat out a lot less when I do this. Which is a time saver and a moiney saver!!!



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