In the know: Prioritize your patient assignments
Stressed Out Nurses Weekly, May 4, 2009
Once you have arrived at work, reviewed your patient assignment, and received the shift-to-shift report, it is time to prioritize. Which patients should you see first? Should you see more complex patients first or last?
Prioritization can be especially challenging for new graduate nurses or nurses transitioning into a new specialty. Patients with critical needs should be attended to first. Patient safety is your next priority. If none of your patients fit these criteria, prioritization can present more of a challenge.
There are many things to consider when prioritizing your patient assignment. Key questions to ask include:
- How much time is needed to complete the assessment, care delivery, and medication administration?
- What resources will you need?
- Are the resources readily available, or do they need to be ordered?
Source: Quick-E! Pro Time Management: A Guide for Nurses. Click here for more information on this new book.
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