Time Management and Critical Thinking Flashcards
What are the benefits of time management in nursing
prioritization
focus
perfecting skills
clinical thinking and clinical reasoning skills are used
real time documentation coverage
gives more time with patients
holistic care
focuses goals of care
allows intervention implenmentation
limits procrastinations
protects your license
work life balance
rest and restore
What are the 3 steps of the cycle of time management
- Allow time for planning and establish priorities
- Complete the highest priority task whenever possible and finish one task before beginning another (also delegate)
- Reprioritize based on the remaining tasks and on new information that may have been received
Repeat
What are the 4 types of tasks
I: Important and Urgent
II: Important and Not Urgent
III: Not Important and Urgent
IV: Not Important and Not Urgent
Examples of Type I Tasks (I,U)
crises
pressing problems
deadline driven projects, meetings, preparations
Examples of Type II Tasks (I, NU)
Preparations
presentations
values clarification
planning
relationship building
true recreation
empowerment
Examples of Type III Tasks (NI, U)
interruptions, some phone calls
some mail, some reports, some meetings
many proximate pressing matters
many popular activities
Examples of Type IV Tasks (NI, NU)
trivia, busy work
junk mail
some phone calls
time wasters
“escape” activities
What are some strategies for time management for Staff Nurses
Organization is Key - stay on top of tasks, don’t procrastinate, use tools, use resources, ask for help as needed
Group Activities - take room inventory, gather supplies, prep tasks/meds together, assist aides in tasks during assessment
Estimate time gaps - time in between tasks/meds, patient off floor, lunch/breaks, staff help
Document in Real Time
Use tools - report sheets, time grids, EMR grids, timers, color coded/other for learning styles
Complete work on time
Work time is work time - avoid distractions and socializing and media
Time Management Strategies for Nurse Leaders
unit and personal priorities of the day
identify goals
know the staff - strengths and needs, nursing v assistive personnel
evaluate changes and needs of the unit both long term and short term
keep a planner or calendar up to date for meetings
prepare meetings with agenda items in advance
allow time for unexpected issues, check in points through the day
anticipate changes and needed adjustments often
plan in breaks
leave on time
4 Major ways to Prioritize Time
- Deal with Interruptions (find quiet places to chart and for planning spaces, close a door, block out time as able)
- Avoid Procrastination
- Be mindful of personal time - avoid burn out
- Set limits - dont let others, tasks, and personal issues creep into work time
The more organized a person…
the less stressed they are
Leadership and communication are ____
interdependent
What should a leader be doing in order to promote time management and prevent stress
help others with managing time
role model behaviors and values
fiscal responsibility is tied with productivity
assists as needed on unit goals and tasks
balances work and life
Brans’ 12 Habits to Master for Personal Time Managemetn
12 habits to help prevent stress and promote productivity
- Strive to be authentic. be honest with yourself
- favor trusting relationships
- maintain a lifestyle that will give you maximum energy
- listen to your biorhythms and organize your day accordingly
- set very few priorities and stick to them
- turn down things that are inconsistent with your priorities
- set aside time for focused effort
- always look for ways of doing things better and faster
- build solid processes
- spot trouble ahead and solve problems immediately
- break your goals into small units of work and think only about one unit at a time
- finish what is important and stop doing what is no longer worthwhile.
___% of nurses feel burnout in their work
15
Time Management Tips
Prioritize Tasks
Set a Manageable Routine
Learn to Say No
Build a support system
dont be afraid to delegate
make sure you communicate
give yourself breaks
Decision Making
making a choice with a given set of options
Problem Solving
goes one step further than decision making
finding reason and asking why questions
requires critical thinking skills
Decision Making Process
- Define and analyze the problem
- Develop alternative solutions
- Evaluate the alternative solutions
- Select the best solution
- Implement your decisions
- follow up
repeat
Critical Thinking
Using the nursing process to obtain information and formulate a plan based on this knowledge
thinking through a situation to make sound judgment and apply the necessary interventions for the situation to reach a successful end goal.
Critical Reasoning
one step beyond critical thinking
bigger thinking - if I do this what will the outcome be and why
various levels of knowledge application
applies EBP
nursing dx and care plans come to fruition based on several aspects of the patient’s assessment, nurse’s knowledge and skill, and holistic interpretation of needs.
ASKING WHY IS THIS HAPPENING - WHY WOULD THE OUTCOME BE LIKE THIS
Nursing process
Assessment –> Nursing Dx–> Planning –> Implementation –> Evaluation –> REPEAT
Nurses must become ___ thinkers and use ___ ___
critical thinkers and use critical reasoning
Ways to Develop Clinical Reasoning Skills as New Nurses
Trust intuition
Assess early in shift
Notice subtle changes in status
Be thinking about the next best action due to change or “What if”
SBAR thinking (Situation background action response)
Evaluate how the patient responded to the intervention and if further action is needed
Learn your resources
Reflect on the outcome and how to improve next time
Seek help from seasoned peers
When in doubt always question
How can leaders enhance team clinical reasoning
provide education, discussion, reflect
work groups
practice counsels
evaluate the literature for EBP
support new nurses in training
know resources
apply the nursing process
communicate with your teams
offer support from seasoned nurses for mentorship
How to support others in decision making
recognize/celebrate difference and diversity (gender roles/views, past experiences/knowledge, personal choices, learning and thinking styles)
Do not rush the process, be patient