How To Stop Wasting Time: A Guide For Hospice Nurses

Finding the balance between compassion and the clock is critical for hospice nurses. Hospice is often portrayed as serene and peaceful. However, the reality is that it can be chaotic and challenging. For hospice nurses, mastering time management is an essential skill for long-term success. This blog will explain strategies and tips to help hospice nurses enhance their time management skills and get organized.

The SAD Truth About Time Management for Hospice Nurses

First, time management looks different in each nursing specialty. I say this because even if you’re an experienced nurse, there’s a good chance that the way you used to organize your day probably won’t be the same in the hospice setting.

I know this might sound negative, but it’s true.

You can have great organizational skills but still struggle with organizing your schedule, including time for administrative tasks, and still having a life!

Second, time management also has to do with workflow, and in hospice, you never know what might happen.

Even the best-laid schedule is subject to change.

Time Management Challenges Hospice Nurses Face

• • Schedule changes

• • Short staffing

• • Frequent telephone calls

• • Extended symptom management visits

• • Emergency admissions

• • Technology issues

• • Balancing on-call with charting

The sooner you can acknowledge that hospice does not always come in a pretty package, the sooner you can implement strategies that can help you get organized and better manage your time.

Time Management Strategies For Hospice Nurses:

DAILY ESSENTIALS

To start the day on the right foot, hospice nurses should ensure they have essential information and supplies readily available. One routine that I like is leaving my hospice bag and shoes in the same place every day. You can also clean and stock your nursing bag before you wrap up for the day.

Hospice nurses need to be well-prepared with essential information. This includes having important phone numbers readily available, keeping copies of physician NPIs, understanding comfort kits and standard doses, and being aware of eligibility guidelines. Lists, checklists, calendars, and day planners can also serve as valuable tools for staying organized.

Other ways to get ready for your shift include:

• • Important Phone Numbers to keep handy
    
    • • Hospice Medical Directors + NPI numbers
    • • Co-workers/IDG
    • • Hospitals
    • • Ambulance Companies
    • • Medical Equipment Provider
    • • Hospice Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PMB)
    • • Local Pharmacies

• • Hospice Nurse Tools
    
    • • Hospice Scales and Measures (PPS, FAST, NYHA, KPS, etc.)
    • • LCD’s and Eligibility Guidelines
    • • Comfort Kit Information
    • • Wound Care Guide

• • Supplies
    
    • • Trunk Stock
    • • Stethoscope
    • • Cloth Measuring Tape
    • • Notebook
    • • Pens

Recommended Article: What Successful Hospice Nurses Know That You Don’t

Visit Schedules and Prioritization

Setting a realistic visit schedule is crucial for hospice nurses. First, most visits can be completed in about 45 minutes, but establishing a balance between professional boundaries and spending adequate time with families is essential. 

Second, preparation, including calling patients ahead of appointments, helps ensure a smooth and organized visit.

PRO TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS

• Set a realistic visit schedule, recognizing that most visits can be completed in about 45 minutes. Ultimately, this means that you should not add too many patients to your schedule in a day. I think 5-6 is great, but I also understand that staffing may not allow you to have that number.
• Factor in drive time into your day. If you spend an hour with a patient and an hour’s drive to your next patient, then you want to add that into your schedule and make sure your schedulers and team are familiar with your unique situation.
• Call patients ahead of appointments to confirm and inquire about any specific needs, ensuring a smooth visit.
• Establish set days that you visit your patients and facilities. This will help minimize calls and build trust.
• Tackle significant tasks first, avoiding the rush at the end of the day and allowing adjustments for remaining visits.
• Document in REAL TIME!!! I can’t say this enough. Try to get as much charting done during the visit as possible. When notes stack up, this only leaves you further behind and feeling frustrated. You deserve time with your family, so set yourself up for success.

Routine Visit Template

Time Management in Different Hospice Settings

Time management for hospice nurses can also require different strategies depending on the location where hospice care is being provided.

1. Managing Your Time in Facilities

Hospice nurses must take care to manage their time in the nursing home. Make sure you are familiar with the nursing home codes and staff.  Additionally, you want to know who to give report to at the end of your shift.

Key Strategies for Success

• Establish a visit schedule so that the facility knows when to expect your visit. For example, if you have patients who need to be seen twice per week, you can visit the facility on Tuesdays and Fridays. (or whatever day works best for both the facility and you)
• Notify the patient’s family before your scheduled visit so they can make arrangements to be present if they want to. This will also give them an idea of when to expect an update from you.
• Find a quiet spot to chart, and chart all of your visits before you leave the facility.
• Check supplies, medications, and orders before you leave. (With your own eyes!!)
• Visit during meals and at bath time. This will allow you to observe how the patient is tolerating meals and if they have any skin breakdown.  You can use this information in your recertification charting and narrative notes.
• Build relationships with the facility staff. The more patients you have in one place, the easier it is to get your tasks done in the day.

2. Nurse Time Management in the Patient’s Home

Key Strategies for Success

• Follow a visit schedule and stick to it. I’ve outlined a sample schedule that you can use to keep you on track.
• Use checklists and cheat sheets. It’s impossible to remember everything, so give yourself a hand.
• Document in real time. NO EXCUSES! If not in real-time, do it as soon as you can. You don’t want to spend your precious time charting at night.
• Order supplies and refills while you’re still in the home.
• Call the doctor for any orders and use the SBAR format (so that you are and sound organized)
• Inform the family of your next scheduled visit.

Conclusion

Time management plays a pivotal role in the quality of nursing care, particularly in hospice settings. Efficient time management allows nurses to:

• Allocate sufficient time to each patient for thorough assessments and care.
• Prevent feeling rushed, ensuring a more relaxed and compassionate approach.
• Address urgent needs promptly, especially when on call.
• Maintain accurate and real-time documentation, contributing to better communication and coordination within the healthcare team.
• Enhance overall patient satisfaction and outcomes by delivering timely and personalized care.

🎯Want more hospice documentation tips?🎯

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