06/18/2026
If you’re a nursing student or a newly qualified nurse, this is for you.
You might look at an experienced nurse during a busy shift and wonder, “How do they remember everything?”
The answer is simple: they don’t rely on memory alone. They rely on planning and prioritization.
Picture this.
You have seven patients allocated to you this shift.
One needs IV antibiotics tds, another requires frequent observations, one is waiting for a procedure or two, another has bloods to be taken, and one is likely going home today.
Then the doctor finishes the ward round and leaves new plans for every patient.
Now if you don’t organize yourself, you’ll spend the whole shift chasing tasks instead of staying ahead of them.
One habit that will make a huge difference for you is writing down your priorities at the beginning of your shift.
Arrange them by urgency and timing, then keep reviewing your plan as the day goes on.
Now here’s another tip that saves me a lot of time:
When you go to a patient’s bedside, try to complete as many appropriate tasks as possible during that visit (if applicable).
Don’t just check observations, walk away, then come back five minutes later for medications if they can safely be done together.
It makes your workflow smoother and reduces unnecessary interruptions for the patient.
And remember, new tasks will always come up.
So the key is to reassess, reprioritize and adjust your plan throughout your shift.
Bear in mind that no nurse gets it perfect every day but with practice, you’ll become more organized and more confident.
Working smarter doesn’t mean rushing.
It means being intentional.
Now speak up ..
If you could get advice from an experienced nurse about one thing before your next shift, what would you ask?
Drop it in the comments, an experienced nurse may answer you or I might answer it in my next post.
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