10
Strategies to Deal with Understaffing and Lack of Time
80%
of nurses surveyed point to:
as
the largest obstacles that they have to face on a daily
basis.
Sound
familiar?
Clearly,
you need strategies that will deal with these issues
and maintain quality in your nursing care. The following
10 strategies are being implemented by nurses all over
the world, and they can help you too!
-
Increase
your Knowledgebase
-
Look
for "Red Flags"
-
Use
a "Road Map"
-
Focus
your Assessment
-
Use
Clinical Tools
-
Use
your Resources Effectively
-
Organize
-
Let
Technology Help
-
Implement
Better Interventions
-
Prevent
Complications
By
implementing these strategies in your care, you will
feel more confident, and provide better care for your
patients. Get started now by signing up for the free
"101 tips to improve your nurisng care" audio
e-mail service and get a free subscription to the Update4Nurses
newsletter!
Or,
if you'd rather learn about them in depth, order the
e-book (below) or the audio CD program by clicking
here.
Here's
an example of the "Road Map":
A
map is often helpful when driving in unfamiliar places.
In the same way, a map can be helpful in managing the
care of our patients.
Drawing
your Map
The first step is to make a problem list for the patient.
Problems are moved up or down the list depending on
how well they fit with the patient’s presenting
symptoms. This is the beginning of our map.
Decide
Which Test is First
By evaluating the list, the nurse can decide which diagnostic
tests would give the most information and should be
done first. Initial diagnostic tests should help narrow
the list down to the most likely problem. This step
adds detail to our map.
Determine
the Interventions
Once the most likely problem is defined, better interventions
can be implemented. When interventions are focused on
a specific problem, they will be more effective.
Better
Interventions
Initial interventions should focus on preventing complications.
To decide which interventions to do first, ask yourself
“what is the worst thing that could happen?’,
and focus on preventing that outcome.
For
example: if the worst thing that will happen as a result
of the patient’s problem is he will go into shock
— then focus on interventions that will prevent
and treat shock.
Know
Where You Are
By using a problem list to define the problem, order
diagnostic tests, and plan interventions nurses will
know where they are going with their patient’s
care.
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