[ashleygrant]

I'm having a really hard time with organization for clinical.. we are on a medical surgical unit, with many renal patients... I'm only supposed to make my way up to caring for 3 patients, and I really need help.. any suggestions for a really good plan of care sheet to help me manage clinical time, and prioritize between patients?

[Darlyene]

I have been an RN for 31 years this May and organizational skills is something that you have to develop with experience. As far as prioritizing your patient care you always take care of the most serious first. Do you feed a patient or clean up an incontinent patient first? You clean the patient first. Why? Think about what can happen if you do not do something, this is Critical Thinking. If you do not feed the patient now, nothing will happen to hurt that patient. You can always heat the food up but if the patient lies in stool or urine they can get a skin breakdown, yeast and ammonia burns. Always think this way and you will not go wrong. Take care of the patient that needs you the most at that time to prevent any adverse patient outcomes.
Don't depend on papers or articles to tell you what to do. Listen to how you feel about what is happening with your patient.