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5 Helpful Reminders for During Your Shift

Remember Your Self Worth

Nurses are busy people, and no one will ever deny that.  Sometimes you get so busy caring for patients, running from room to room, administering medications, and of course a million other things.  So one good rule every nurse should practice remembering every day on the way to work is:  Being a nurse is more than spending countless hours of studying during school and training's.  It's more than a license, a pair of scrubs, or a 12-hour shift.  It's more than a person that takes orders from physicians, and its more than someone that administers medications. 

Being a nurse means you can multi-task, you can understand complex details and instructions, and you can tell a family member good news, that their loved one is going to be OK.  You can deliver good news, and you can deliver bad news; you can offer comfort, while you can also offer support and understanding.  You can wish someone well as they successfully walk out the hospital door, and you can hold back your tears and comfort the family of a patient that took their last breath.  So before you worry about any reminders during your shift, before you worry about remembering to re-stock another supply, remember the one thing that is very important: Remember yourself worth.  Remember that you are flexible, strong, intelligent, and caring.  It is exactly what got you where you are today, and without all of those attributes, you would not be where you are, and you would not be a nurse. 

Reminder Apps – Remember to Install One

Technology has caught up with us and it will continue to evolve every day that passes.  Some things will never change in nursing: the compassion, the care, the concern, and the dedication.  Some things that will, and already have changed, are: How you go about being productive throughout your shift?
There are various types of apps to help you be productive on your shift--reminders, to-dos, alarms; the list is virtually never ending.  Providing your employer does not mind you utilizing your phone during  your shift, it can be a great tool to help keep you organized.   Your phone can really help you organize your work shift, and can also help you to keep up with what days and times you will be working, in case you don’t have regular working hours.  Skip the sticky notes, and set those reminders, it will speed you up and save paper at the same time. 

Caring for Your Patient

A good rule of thumb when caring for patients is this – “The cost of bad care is immeasurable, and the effects of good care are abundant”.
Bad care can be not only a terrible thing for the patient; it can be costly for everyone involved.  The repercussions of poor care for a patient can create lifelong problems, or even death.  It can create an emotional strain and huge financial liabilities for the medical facility itself.  Let's face it, as a nurse you have seen, or will see it all.  You will have some patients that are great, some that are okay, and some that you want to smack (kidding of course) the next time they hit that call bell.  However, you always need to remind yourself that every patient is important, never lose sight of your patient’s worth.   The patient before you either is, or has been the most important person in the world to someone, and they need to be treated with respect, care, and compassion.  So when the bell rings for you to adjust the blinds, to move their cup 1 inch closer, or to change the TV channel, after you take the remote out of their hand, take a deep breath, and remind yourself, “I love my job”.  Loving your job means you will provide the best care possible for your patient, regardless of what type of patient they may be. 

Remember to Value and Appreciate Your Coworkers

They annoy at times, they have irritating habits, they are not always dependable, and they wear way too many hair products.  They also come running when you call for help, they assist you when you need to lift a heavy patient, and they cover for you in the event of an emergency.  Yes, that pretty much sums it up in describing your coworkers.  Appreciate your coworkers for who they are.  Sure, they may annoy you at times, but they would also jump to help you whenever and wherever you need them.  It is vital that nurses stick together, and be there for one another, regardless of differences that may exist between you.  

Remember to Manage Your Time & Plan Your Day

Organization is key in having a productive day when you are a nurse.  Unlike many other professions, as a nurse you simply cannot afford to be unorganized, the results could be catastrophic.  Plan you shift out as much as possible ahead of time.  Of course, things will arise that were unanticipated, but some advance planning can make for a much smoother shift in general.  Organize what you can, so that when you need something, you don’t spend time searching for it, it will be within reach.  A little planning and organizing will go a long way in making your day more productive.  You will also notice that if things under your control are organized, your day goes better, and your patients have more confidence in your ability to care for them.  Your day is busy and hectic, and the stress is sometimes unimaginable, however, being well prepared and organized will save you time and unnecessary frustrations as you work through your shift.
A nurse has so many things to remember, and so much information to retain, that you sometimes wonder how your brain can actually hold all of that data.  Never think of needing little reminders as a fault, instead embrace it that you have the know how to realize you need prompting to do all of the things expected of you during your shift.  Know your strengths, and accept your weaknesses, after all, before you were a nurse, you were still a human being.  Use whatever tools are at your disposal to help you remember and keep your day organized, regardless of if it is phone apps, sticky notes, or a chart you refer to.  Don’t hesitate to ask other nurses what helps them to remember all of the little things that they have to do in a single shift.  Should the opportunity present itself to attend a conference or training for staying organized and keeping track of everything you need to get don’t during your work shift, take advantage of the opportunity and attend? You may learn some tricks and tips that will help you in your day to day functions. 

Out of everything you must remember and remind yourself during your shift, it can be a little overwhelming.  Just utilize any tools available to help you and never hesitate to ask for assistance when your work plate is just too full.  It's almost inevitable that at some point, something will slip your mind.  Don’t be too hard on yourself, and don’t be afraid to admit it, we all make mistakes, and even a fabulous nurse are not immune to that.    Most of all, remind yourself, you are valuable, you are irreplaceable, and important: you are a nurse.


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