Time Management in Nursing: Enhancing Efficiency and Quality Care

Introduction

Time is considered one of life’s most precious commodities. There are 86,400 seconds, 1,440 minutes, or 24 hours in a day. How a person uses these seconds, minutes, or hours is entirely up to him/her. Many people, nurses included, complain there is not enough time in one day. However, the issue typically points toward a person’s poor use of the time available. Time management in nursing plays a key role in optimizing time to its fullest. Time management refers to how one manages himself/herself and the ability to use time effectively (Nayak, 2018).

The Value of Time Management in Nursing

Nursing is a complex profession, requiring excellent assessment skills, critical thinking and compassion on a day-to-day basis. Nurses are often pulled in various directions throughout the day with the expectation of meeting specific goals or objectives by the end of the shift. Additionally, the scope of nursing has evolved quite dramatically since the times of Florence Nightingale where nurses were found primarily at the bedside. Nurses now take on the responsibility of the creation of new knowledge, research for implementation of evidence-based practice, and nurse driven-leadership initiatives (Altman & Rosa, 2015). With the intense demands of the job, proficient time management skills facilitates a nurse in accomplishing the tasks and job responsibilities expected of her.

If time is not managed appropriately, poor work quality, missed deadlines, and high stress levels results (Nayak, 2018). With good time management skills, leads to greater productivity, improved efficiency, and decreased stress levels (Nayak, 2018). Especially with the continuous, growing shortage of nurses, increased on the job pressure demands effective time management. Nurses need to work harder rather than smarter to meet their goals and deliver quality care (Nayak, 2018).

Navigating Time Management in Nursing

The article “Time Management in Nursing Work” written by Nizar Said explores the importance of time management in nursing in order to find the best strategies and steps in implementing time management (Said, 2014). The article explored a couple theories pertaining to time management. The first is Pareto’s Principle of the 80/20 Rule where 80% of results are always attributed to 20% of something else (Said, 2014). When applied, the rule aids in effectively managing time and other aspects of life. The second theory is the Pickles Jar Theory, which focuses on creating a balance, visualizing priorities, and completing tasks realistically (Said, 2014). This theory encourages the individual to envision the tasks at hand and prioritizing them in a realistic manner to achieve successful completion, which appears to be very beneficial.

The research in managing time in nursing work from this study revealed how planning and prioritizing allows nurses to not only take better care for themselves but for their patients too (Said, 2014). The researcher also included time management tips such as arriving early to work, listing activities that need completed, prioritizing these activities, accounting for the time needed for each task while also being conscientious of the time spent on each task, allowing time for unscheduled activities or errors, learning to say no, and organizing the home life to reduce stress at work (Said, 2014). An important note the researcher concluded with was recognizing a single time management style does not fit everyone, but each individual is, however, responsible for himself/herself and organizing their own personal needs (Said, 2014, p. 749).

A second article titled “Time Management Strategies: Purposeful Rounding and Clustering Care” written by Cyndi Kelley discovered two time management strategies that allowed nurses to provide patient-centered care: purposeful rounding and clustering care. When used correctly, purposeful rounding can improve a patient’s experience through a structured hourly rounding evidence-based practice approach, helping nurses anticipate and address patient needs (Kelley, 2017). Clustering care was also conveyed as a timesaving technique and is enhanced when combined with purposeful rounding. This concept seeks to maximize time spent with the patient by completing critical patient care tasks initially and prioritizing other assignments at certain times that have a greater effect on the patient (Kelley, 2017). The idea behind the two strategies combined together promotes greater patient satisfaction leading to a decrease in patients using the call bell and overall, decreasing nursing workload (Kelley, 2017). Thus, positively impacting how nurses manage their time.

A third study titled “Time Management in Nursing – Hour of Need” describes time management as a skill that develops over time. Strategies were provided to aid nurses in improving their time management skills. These strategies suggested to determine goals, schedule a realistic time to achieve the goals, prioritize and use a to-do list, keep a learning track, liaison appropriately, and orient to personnel and functioning of the unit (Nayak, 2018). If nurses follow these strategies in order, their time management can improve tremendously by first figuring out what the goals or expected tasks are to complete for the day and prioritizing these goals into a to-do list to keep the nurse organized and provide a means for her to check off completed tasks as she goes. Determinants of effective time management skills were also discussed such as confidence, competency in skills, and clarity of knowledge (Nayak, 2018). The more confident a nurse is in her ability to carry out a task with the knowledge and competence to do so the quicker she will be in completing tasks, resulting in efficient time management.

Critical Analysis

Entering the nursing profession is exciting yet overwhelming. With learning how a unit or department functions, understanding job responsibilities, and knowing where supplies are located, there is a lot to grasp in the first few months to a year. Time management skills as a new nurse will make transitioning into the role and improving this writer’s management style in a positive fashion.

Leaders and managers need and succeed from good time management skills, which can be broken down into external and internal time management skills. External time management skills include organizing routine tasks and activities whereas internal time management skills select tasks to achieve a larger vision (Sarfraz, 2017). Given the findings from the three studies above, this writer can implement external time management skills with the support of evidence-based practice suggesting to organize routine tasks by arriving to work early, prioritizing each task with an estimated timeframe for completing the task, and developing a to-do list to stay organized and cross off completed items along the way. This writer also appreciated learning to say “no,” especially as a new nurse because as Said (2014) each individual is responsible for organizing his/her own needs. Taking on too much at once will hinder this writer’s ability to perform successfully and negatively impact time management.

Regarding internal time management skills and selecting tasks to achieve a vision, this writer can encompass the time management skills learned from the studies to facilitate successfully completing a nursing shift at large. The Pickle Jar Theory explains envisioning the completion of tasks which can help this writer enter each day with the vision of ending her nursing shift on time and accomplishing everything that was on her to-do list. As this writer gains experience on her unit, she can also use internal time management skills to select appropriate tasks parallel with the culture or needs of the unit to gain followers and carry out duties that meet a particular vision.

Summary

Overall, time management is an important skill to foster into nursing practice. With good time management skills, a nursing manager or leader understands how to prioritize and complete job duties effectively and efficiently. When good time management skills are put into practice, stress is reduced, positive patient outcomes surface, and a vision can be accomplished. Time management supports efficient nursing practice and influences the roles of a nurse leader and manager. Time management is arguably one of the most important and essential skills to have as a new nurse or established nurse.

References

1. Altman, M., & Rosa, W. (2015). Redefining “time” to meet nursing’s evolving demands. Nursing Management, 46(5), 46–50. https://doiorg.libaccess.fdu.edu/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000463886.62598.3d
2. Kelley, C. B. (2017). Time Management Strategies: Purposeful Rounding and Clustering Care. Med-Surg Matters, 26(1), 1–3. Retrieved from https://libaccess.fdu.edu/login?url=http:// search.ebscohost.com.libaccess.fdu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=121191463&site=ehost-live&scope=site
3. Nayak, S. G. (2018). Time Management in Nursing -- Hour of need. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 11(3), 1997–200. Retrieved from https://libaccess.fdu.edu/login?url= http://search.ebscohost.com.libaccess.fdu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=134112556&site=ehost-live&scope=site
4. Said, N. B. (2014). SPECIAL PAPER. Time Management in Nursing Work. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 7(3), 746–749. Retrieved from https://libaccess.fdu.edu/login ?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.libaccess.fdu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=103900084&site=ehost-live&scope=site
5. Sarfraz, H. (2017). Differentiated time management skills between leadership styles: Simplified with a cross-cultural approach. Development and Learning in Organizations, 31(6), 14-18. doi:http://dx.doi.org.libaccess.fdu.edu/10.1108/DLO-02-2017-0009