Sample Cna Inservice How to Prioritize Your Work

7/13/2019 Sample Cna Inservice How to Prioritize Your Work

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877.809.5515

www.knowingmore.com

[email protected]

HOW TO PRIORITIZE

AProfessional GrowthModule:

YOUR WORK

1998-2012

May be copied for use within each physica

location that purchases this inservice


2/22

Step One:

Make a copy of the Instructions for the Learner page. Return your original to the sheet protector. Add the

following information to the copy:

1. The name (or position) of the person to whom the aides should direct questions.

2. The name (or position) of the person to whom the aides should turn in their quizzes.

3. The date by which the quiz page should be turned in.

4. The name (or position) of the person who will initial the aides Inservice Club Membership Cards.

Use this copy as your master as you make up the inservice packets.

Step Two:

Have the following copied for each learner:

1. The Instructionsfor the Learner page.2. The 10 Page Inservice newsletter.

3. OPTIONAL: This inservice offers a great opportunity to review CNA job descriptions. Consider

adding a copy of each employees job description.

4. The Quizpage.

Step Three:

For Self-Study Use

Distribute as desiredin employee mailboxes; folded in paychecks, etc.

You may want to post the Quiz Answer Sheet in a prominent spot.

For Group Use

Read over the Suggested Participatory Activities, the Suggested Teaching Tips and the Suggested

Discussion Questions.

Select the activities you want to use during your inservice hour.

2012 In the Know, Inc.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SUPERVISOR

A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work

Developing Top-Notch CNAs One Inservice at a Time


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ACTIVITY # 1: WHAT ARE YOUR BIG ROCKS?

Hand out copies of the "Big Rocks" story included in this packet. Read the story out loud to the group or

allow time for each participant to read individually.

Tell the participants that this concept can be applied to work as well as to their personal lives. Give the

group a few minutes to discover their "big rocks" for work.

When the group is finished, ask for some ideas of what the "Big Rocks" are for the workplace. Write the

suggestions on a flipchart, overhead, or board.

When all the "Big Rocks" are up, ask the group to number the items in order of importance. This will outline

the priorities for their particular jobs.

ACTIVITY #2: IMPORTANT DECISIONSA TEAMBULDING ACTIVITY

Setting priorities is an important skill . . . but it also has to be a team effort. Use this team building exercise

to strengthen your teams decision making skills and promote teamwork!

Separate the groups into 2-3 teams, depending on how many participants you have.

Give each team the scenario handout included in this packet and provide time (no more than 10 minutes)

for the team to come to a consensus. The scenario involves an emergency situation, so there should be

some time pressure to make the decisions.

When time is up, ask the groups to discuss their decisions and ask some of the following questions:

1. How were decisions made (vote, debate, argument)?2. Who influenced the decisions and how?

3. How could better decisions have been made?

4. Did people listen to each other? If not, why?

5. What roles did group members adopt?

6. How would you do the activity differently if you were asked to do it again?


SUGGESTED PARTICIPATORY ACTIVITIES




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TEACHING TIPS

Make an overhead of the Quiz Answer Sheet.

Take advantage of this inservice time to go over your workplace policies

on charting in a timely manner, cell phone usage while working,gathering and reporting abnormal vital signs.

Take some time to allow participants to discuss their reaction to:

The Think About It box on page 4,

The Connect it Now box on page 5, and

The Get Out box on page 7.

If you dont have time to complete the Big Rocks or Important

Decisions activities, consider handing them out to participants to

complete on their own time. Encourage discussion among the group

about the answers they come up with.

RESOURCES

The following resources were used in developing this inservice. You might want

to check them out for further information:

Nursing Assistant Resources On The Web at http://nursingassistants.net/

Nursing Assistant Care; Long-Term Care and Home Heath,

a textbook published by Hartman Publishing.

Mosbys Essentials for Nursing Assistants,

a textbook published by Mosby

American Nurses Association at www.nursingworld.org

American Geriatric Society at Home at www.healthinaging.org

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality at www.ahrq.gov


PLEASE NOTE:Your staff may enjoy the

following related In the Knowinservices:

Reporting and

Documenting Client Care

Dealing with Family

Members

Working With Difficult &

Combative People

Working with a Team

Critical Thinking Skills

Customer Service in

Healthcare

Time Management Skills

Understanding Basic

Human Needs

Home Care Safety Tips

If your In the Know library

doesnt include these titles, theyare available for purchase by

calling our toll-free number:

SUGGESTED TEACHING TIPS




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DISCUSSION QUESTION #1

How can you use Maslows Hierarchy of Needs to determine the priorities in your job? (Make an overhead

of the triangle from page 3 of the Learner Packet, if possible.)

ANSWER: Answers may vary but should include information about fulfilling physical needs and safety

needs first. Without prioritizing the physical and safety needs . . . There may be NO client to care for!


What are your top 5 priorities for each day? What is the order of importance? Discuss why you chose your

number 1 priority as the most important.


What are the main types of things that keep you from fulfilling your daily priorities . . . gossiping,

interruptions, your cell phone? How can you eliminate these time wasters?

HERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS THAT MAY SPUR SOME INTERESTING DISCUSSION:

You have a difficult and demanding client who is ordering you to check her blood pressure because

she feels her heart fluttering. On your way to her room, you notice another client on the floor in

the hallway calling for help. What do you do?

You have a client who is diabetic. Her blood sugar just before lunch is 30. She is drowsy and

confused. Lunch is not scheduled to arrive for another 30 minutes. What do you do?

You arrive at your clients home where she begins ordering you to clean up the house because her

relatives are coming in an hour and the place is a disaster! She also wants to take a bath and claims

she can do it alone while you clean. You know this is not safe. What do you do?


SUGGESTED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS




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We hope you enjoy this

inservice, prepared by

registered nurses

especially

for nursing assistants

like you!

After finishing this

inservice, you will be

able to:

State at least two reasons

why prioritizing your work

is important.

Outline Maslows Hierarchy

of Needs theory and explainhow you can use it to

prioritize your work.

Explain how prioritizing can

help you deal with a

difficult client.

Discuss how setting goals

and creating to do listscan help you prioritize

your work.

Develop your own flexible,

prioritized daily work

schedule that is unique to

your working environment.

If you are studying the inservice on your own, please do the following:

Read through allthe material. You may find it useful to have a

highlighting marker nearby as you read. Highlight any information that is

new to you or that you feel is especially important.

If you have questions about anything you read, please ask

_________________________.

Take the quiz. Think about each statement and pick the best answer.

Check with your supervisor for the right answers. You need 8 correct

to pass!

Print your name, write in the date, and then sign your name.

Keep the inservice information for yourself and turn in the quiz page to

_____________________________ no later than _______________.

Show your Inservice Club Membership Card to ___________________ so

that it can be initialed.

Email In the Know at [email protected] with your comments

and/or suggestions for improving this inservice.

THANK YOU!

Instructions for the Learner

A Professional Growth Module:

HOW TO PRIORITIZE

YOUR WORK



7/22


How to Prioritize Your Work

FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD!

Inside This

Inservice:

Why are Priorities

Important?

2

How Do You Know What Is

Important?

3

Focus on Physical Needs 4

Focus on VS, I/O & Weight 6

Focus on Difficult Clients 7

Time Management and

Goal Setting

8

How to Focus and Stay on

Task

9

Final Tips 10

Focus on Safety Needs 5


www.knowingmore.com

May be copied for use within

each physical location that

purchases this inservice from

In the Know. All other copying

or distribution is strictly

prohibited.


In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy finds

herself in a strange environment

(Munchkin Land) with a huge taskahead of her (getting to Oz).

When she turns to Glinda to ask

for directions, the good witch

replies,

"It's always best to start

at the beginning."

Then, she directs

Dorothy to the

Yellow Brick Road.

Well, this is good

advice for just

about everything

in life. It is best to

start at the

beginning, take

baby steps until you are

comfortable, then just keep going

until you reach the end.

Unfortunately, it's not always that

simple for people who work in

health care.

Your day doesn't start out with a

perfectly paved yellow brick road

surrounded by happy munchkins

cheering you on!

Some days you may have so much

to do, you can't see the beginning

or the end. This is when it becomesimportant to know how to set

priorities.

When you plan your day by setting

clear and appropriate priorities, you

arepaving your own yellow brick

road!

Of course, even the

best brick road can

have potholes orlead to a wrong turn,

but as long as you

keep your priorities

in mind, you will get

back on the path and

soon reach your

destination.

Keep reading to learn how you can

get everything done during your

day by setting priorities.

And, learn how setting and

following a list of priorities will help

you reduce stress, provide better

care, and allow you to meet your

clients physical and safety needs

with compassion and dignity.


8/22

Being able to prioritize means you know how to

schedule your day so that the most important thing (atthe time) gets your full attention.

Its not enough to just reactto situations as they arise.

This will leave you feeling stressed out! You must be

able to look ahead and predict what may happen and

be ready to head off problems beforethey occur.

ITS GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE

Organizing your day with clear priorities not only

makes your day better, but it brings calmness and

predictability to your clients day.It can be difficult and frustrating for your clients to have

to rely on you to do things for them. Combine this with

the uncertainty of not knowing where you are or when

you will be back. This frustration and uncertainty can

make even the nicest person feel a little edgy.

When you can give your client a clear idea of how the

day will go, you can relieve some of that edginess.

Your clients will stop ringing the call bell or making

excessive demands when they can trust that they will

have your undivided attention at certain times

throughout the day.

SAFETY SHOULD ALWAYS BE

ON YOUR RADAR

There will always be safety issues

that demand your attention but

they dont have to consume your

day and ruin your planned

schedule.

Remember, by planning ahead,

you can head off many safety

issues before they ever happen.

WHY ARE PRIORITIES IMPORTANT?

A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work 2012 In the Know, Inc. Page 2

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER

Prioritizing safety will make your whole day run muchmore smoothly. For example, if you know Mrs. Jones is

a sundowner, (a person who becomes agitated in the

afternoon or evening) then plan your day so that you

can feed, bathe, massage, and play soft music for her

beforeshe becomes agitated and disruptive. This may

keep an unsafe episode from ever occurring.

GET THE WHOLE PICTURE

Whether you work in a facility with many clients or in

the home with just one client, its important to take afew minutes at the beginning of each shift to assess

what has happened during the previous shift . . . and

what needs to happen on your shift.

Get report from the outgoing shift or read over the

chart. Even if you have worked with the client before,

take the time to find out if there has been any change

in status.

For example, Mr. Smith may have seemed fine when

you worked with him two days ago . . . but now he is on

restraints after becoming combative several times

yesterday.

You will need to prioritize his

physical and safety needs now

in a way that is different from

when you worked with him

two days ago. Youll need

to plan to check on him

every two hours and make

sure he is fed, toileted and

cleaned, since he is now

unable to do these thingson his own.

Grab your favorite highlighter! As you read through this

inservice, highlight five things you learn that you didnt

know before. Share this new information with your

supervisor and co-workers!


9/22

2012 In the Know, Inc. Page 3A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work

While each individual person will have different needs at different

points in life, there are a few things that remain constant for every

human. These constant needs, common to all humans, are best

described in Maslows Hierarchy of Needs theory.

Take a look at the pyramid above. Notice that the most basic physical

needs are the biggest portion of the triangleat the base. Oxygen,

water and food are needed to sustain life. These needs must be met

before anything else matters. Now, work your way up the pyramid.

Next, you will find the need for safety.

Physical and safety needs are the most important priorities

for your clients. If you are not prioritizing these two

basic needs . . . there will be NO client to care for!

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT?

To be the most effective caregiver

you can beyou have to be able to

meet your own Hierarchy of Needs!

List two things in each category that

YOU do foryourselfthat meet your

own needs:

Physical Needs:

_____________________________

_____________________________

Safety Needs:

_____________________________

_____________________________

Need for Love:

_____________________________

_____________________________

Self Esteem Needs:

_____________________________

_____________________________

Self Actualization Needs:

_____________________________

_____________________________

PHYSICAL NEEDS:

Oxygen, water, food, elimination, activity and rest.

SAFETY AND SECURITY NEEDS:

Shelter, clothing, and protection from harm.

NEED FOR LOVE:

Feeling love, acceptance and belonging.

SELF ESTEEM NEEDS:

Achievement, belief in ones

own worth and value.

The need to

learn, create

and achieve

ones own

potential.

SELF ACTUALIZATION

NEEDS:

MASLOWS HIERARCHY OF NEEDS


10/22


You may have recognized from Maslows chart that the physical

needs include ones that must be met in order to sustain life. Theyinclude:

OXYGEN:This may seem obvious, but humans must have oxygen to

be alive. This means we have to be able to breathe!

If your client is unable to breathe because of disease or

obstructionnothing else mattersthis is your onlypriority!

WATER: Humans are over 61 percent water. Water is essential to

maintain life. Water becomes even more important in the elderly and

ill and those who are on certain medications, or undergoing therapy.

Without water the body becomes dehydrated.

Signs and symptoms of dehydration may include: decreased urine

output, dry mouth, sunken eyes, low blood pressure, rapid heart

rate, and an elevated temperature.

If you notice any signs or symptoms of dehydration, make it your

priority to inform the nurse, document strict intake and output,

and follow any orders put in place to correct the situation.

FOOD: Without food, starvation occurs. Muscle wasting, weakness,

irritability, confusion, and low blood sugar are all signs of starvation.

Most people eat 2-3 meals and a couple of small snacks

throughout the day. Clients who can feed themselves may simply

need access to food and gentle reminders to eat. Clients who

cannot feed themselves will need you to prioritize a consistent

and predicable feeding schedule.

Report any changes in intake, difficulty chewing or swallowing,

vomiting or refusal to eat immediately.

ELIMINATION: No other physical need creates more trouble for

clients than the need to eliminate! Those who are incontinent face

the embarrassment of soiled clothing and bed linens. Those who are

physically impaired and cannot get to the bathroom independently

must rely on YOU to help when the need arises.

A call for help from the client to get to the

bathroom is a priority! If you cant get to it,

find someone who can. Falls, broken bones,

and even head injuries can result when a

client attempts to get to the bathroom in

a hurry because the wait for help was

too long.

FOCUS ON MEETING PHYSICAL NEEDS

Chances are, your clients are under

your care because they need help with

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

Some clients need total care while

others may be in the process of

rehabilitation and only need your

assistance to help themselves.

Compare a total care client with a client

who is working toward a higher level of

functioning.

Discuss how you would prioritize each

of the following ADLs differently for

these two clients:

Bathing

Dressing

Grooming

Oral Care

Toileting

Walking

Discuss the differences with your

supervisor and co-workers. Find out

how they prioritize these items.

Eating

Shopping

Cooking

Housework

Doing Laundry

Driving

Time is more valuable than

money. You can get more money,

but you cannot get more time.

~ Jim Rohn


11/22


FOCUS ON MEETING SAFETY NEEDS

Maslow lists safety as the second most important need. This is true for

most humans. However, in healthcare, safety needs must be met at thesame timeas physical needs.

IN FACILITIES:To prioritize safety in a facility with many clients, you

should:

1. Get report or read the charts: You need to know if your clients are

on fall precautions, restraints, if they are wanderers, if and how

much assistance is needed for ambulation and eating, and if any

special orders are in place.

2. Do a quick safety check:Take a moment to

walk the halls, peek in rooms and make sureeveryone is breathing and in a safe position.

3. Remove obstacles: Move or remove

anything that may cause a client to fall, such

as extra equipment, shoes, clothing or linens

on the floor, or spilled food or fluids.

4. Check equipment: Make sure all

wheelchairs, walkers, beds or any other

assistive equipment is in good working

order before using.

IN THE HOME: If you work in the home environment with just one client

at a time, you will do all of the above, and:

1. Perform a Safety Inspection: Routinely check for dangers such as

frayed wires on appliances, space heaters that are too close to

furniture or curtains, problems with ventilation, and any other

structural problems that could cause harm.

2. Recommend Assistive Devices: If you see your client has trouble

getting around the bathroom, you could recommend having safety

bars installed, or using a raised toilet seat. There are many assistive

devices available to make things safe in the home. Talk to yoursupervisor about your safety concerns. There is likely a solution to

the problem.

3. Adapt and Change: Help your client re-organize things such as

kitchen cabinets or linen closets so that items are easily reached

without needing a step stool.

4. Poison Control: Make sure all cleaning supplies or dangerous

chemicals are clearly labeled in their original containers.

HOW DO YOU CREATE

STRUCTURE IN YOUR DAY?

A. Show up and do whatever needsto be done.

B. Arrive on time and follow the

same routine you follow every

day.

C. Arrive a few minutes early to get

report and note any changes in

your client(s), then make

changes to your routine based

on this report.

There is no right or wrong answer to

this question. But, ask around. Find

out what your co-workers are doing.

And then, notice the difference in the

stress level and reports of job

satisfaction between the three types.

Those who answer C are likely to be

the least stressed and report the

highest level of job satisfaction!

The key is not to prioritize

what's on your schedule,

but to schedule your priorities.

~ Stephen R. Covey


12/22


VITAL SIGNS

You should start every shift by assessing your clients vital signs. This

gives you a baseline to start from. That way, if something seems odd

later on in the shift, you can always refer back to the baseline vitals

to see how much has changed.

Some medication doses are adjusted daily based on blood pressure

results taken by you. Be sure to get accurate and timely BP readings.

Other medications can affect pulse rate. Record accurate pulse rates

with each blood pressure reading and report abnormal results to the

nurse.

Clients who are sick and immobile have an increased risk ofdeveloping pneumonia. Pay close attention to respiratory rates in

your immobile clients. Any respiratory rate that falls outside the

normal range of 12-20 should be reported immediately.

INTAKE AND OUTPUT

Be sure you know if any of your clients are on strict I&O. This will

mean you will have to prioritize keeping close tabs on everything

that goes in and everything that comes out! You can prepare in

advance by being sure your client has access to a urinal, bedpan, or a

collection hat that sits over the commode.

Also pay close attention to clients on fluid restrictions and those

who have orders to push fluids.

Fluid balance is extremely vital information for clients with certain

disorders like congestive heart failure, brain injury, and metabolic

disorders.

DAILY WEIGHTS

Many clients will need to be weighed every day. This is

usually done to be sure the client is not retaining fluids.

Some medications may need to be adjusted if your

clients weight is suddenly too high or too low. So, an

accurate weight is very important!

Plan ahead to weigh your clients on the same scale, at

the same time of day, and wearing the same amount of

clothing.

FOCUS ON VITAL SIGNS, IS & OS AND WEIGHTS

NEW AIDES: When you are a new

nursing assistant, your workload

can become overwhelming and

become unmanageable prettyquickly.

Look around at the way your

co-workers manage their

workload. If you see someone

who seems to have it all together,

ask:

How do you prioritize your

tasks?

How do you get all your work

done so effortlessly?

Do you have any pointers for

me to better structure my time

and get the most important

things done first?

OLD PROS: Are you experienced,

organized and confident in your

abilities? Then, share your secret!

If you see someone struggling to

keep it all together, ask:

I see you are having a hardtime. Is there anything I can do

to help you run things more

smoothly?

I remember feeling the

way you are feeling right now.

Heres what I do to prioritize my

tasks and get it all done . . .


13/22

WORST THINGS FIRST! Its human nature to avoid things that may

be hard or uncomfortable. This is no different in the medical field

when dealing with difficult clients. You wantto do your best and

give all of your clients the care they need and deserve . . . but there is

always that one client that makes giving care feel like a cruel and

unusual punishment!

Avoiding your difficult client is the worstthing you could do. Putting

difficult clients off only prolongs your anxiety andtheirs. Its best to

take care of these clients first! Heres how:

Identify "High Need" or Difficult Clients

There is usually one (or more) on every shift! Be prepared, inadvance, to budget and spend moretime with this client.

Go above and beyond! Be sure you have done everything you

can do for this client before leaving the room. This will keep him

from pushing the call light or making excessive demands

throughout your shift!

Ask your client, "What else can I do for YOU before I leave your

room?"This is a good way to make sure you've done everything

you need to do and gives your clients (or their family) a feeling of

security knowing you want to make sure all their needs are met.

Having to depend on others for care can

make people feel as if they are not in

control of their own lives. Difficult clients

(or family members) may be acting out as a

way of gaining control.

Give your client some control by

allowing him to make some decisions

about when and how you will care for

him. When your client regains a sense of

control, he will stop making difficult

demands!

Heap on Kindness!

Its okay to spoil your clients (a little)! Try to remember what your

difficult client likes and dislikes. This will let him know you see him as

an individual . . . and not just one of the many patients you care for.

Always maintain a kind and compassionate spirit . . . even if the

feeling is not returned!


FOCUS ON DIFFICULT CLIENTS

Working with clients in the home often

requires coming up with creative

solutions to uncommon problems.

THE PROBLEM: You are caring for a

78 year old woman who is

recovering from a broken ankle (the

result of a fall).

You arrive at the house with an

agenda . . . . but the weather report

shows a big storm coming, so your

client has a few requests for you, as

well. She would like you to do a

load of laundry, mop the bathroom

floor, fix the rubber stopper on her

walker, and make sure she is

prepared for a power outage with a

flashlight and bottled water, etc.

WHAT YOU KNOW:This client lives

alone and is having trouble walking

with her casted ankle. Her requests

are not out of the ordinary, and

youd like to do everything she

needs. But, there is just not enough

time!

GET CREATIVE: How would youprioritize these needs to make sure

your client gets what she wants and

needs?

TALK ABOUT IT: Share your ideas

with your co-workers and supervisor

and find out how they would solve

the problem.


14/22


Time management and setting priorities go hand-in-hand. When you

manage your time well, you will handle all your priorities . . . and, whenyou know your priorities, you will manage your time well!

There are several ways you can use time management skills to prioritize

your work. Here are a few:

Make a daily To Do list. . . then, take it a step further and number

the items on your list in order of importance. This will tell you what

your priorities are for the day!

Take care of the items on your list in order of importance, checking

them off as you go along. This can be a very satisfying way of

making sure you are doing what needs to be done and not wastingtime on things that are unimportant.

Set goals for yourself each day . . . but be realistic! Each day at

the top of your to do list set one goal for yourself, such as, arrive

to work ten minutes early to avoid feeling rushed, or keep up with

charting so I dont have to stay late to finish.

If you get off track because of an emergency . . . just pick up where

you left off and keep moving. Taking time to dwell on the fact that

you are out of your routine will just waste more time.

If you get to the end of your day and find there are still items on

your to do list . . . dont just ignore them, youll have to make some

decisions about what to do.

1. If the item on your list can wait until tomorrow, start tomorrows

list right away and put that item at the top.

2. If the item cant wait until tomorrow, you may need to stay lateto complete it. Be sure to ask your supervisor for

permission to stay late. Some companies have policies

regarding overtime.

3. The final alternative, if the item on your list cant wait . . . and

you cant stay late . . . you will have to notify your supervisor and

pass the task to the next shift. Use this option as a last resort

because when you addyourwork onto your co-workers to do

list, you put their schedule behind.

TIME MANAGEMENT / GOAL SETTING

Now, its time for you to develop

your own flexible, prioritized daily

work schedule that is unique to your

working environment.

Think about your typical workday.

Do you work in a facility with many

clients, in a home with just one

client, or do you travel from home to

home visiting several clients?

1. Take a minute or two to make a

quick list of all the things you

have to do on a typical day.

2. Next, place numbers next to the

tasks to arrange the list in orderof importance.

3. Now give each task a time frame.

For instance, estimate how long

it takes you to measure, record

and report vital signs on your

clients.

4. Finally, chart it out! There are no

rules here! Just do what works

for you!, Make it your own. You

are the only one who

has to read it!

5. HINT: Write in

pencil so you can

make changes if

needed!

Set priorities for your goals. A major part of successful living

lies in the ability to put first things first. Indeed, the reason most

major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing

second things first. ~ Author Unknown

TO-DOTODA

Y!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.


15/22


BAN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES

We live, work and play in a very fast-paced world. We have

computers, internet, email, cell phones, iPhones, iPods, and ear

pieces. We stay continuously connected though our electronic

devices via texting, MySpace, FaceBook, and YouTube. By the time

you read this inservice, all these things may be old fashioned and

the next big thing will have come along!

The point is, these things are fun and sometimes even functional.

But, they can also be distracting . . . and distractions in healthcare

can lead to deadly mistakes.

If your workplace does not already have a policy in place regardingelectronic devices, enforce your own! If you must keep a cell phone

so your children can reach you, then use it for that purpose only.

The only thing answering calls or texts, or updating your FaceBook

profile during work is doing for you is putting you behind. It's taking

your focus away from your clients. And, it could potentially be a

HIPAA violation.

There have been instances recently of healthcare personnel

updating their FaceBook status with comments about the clients

they are caring for. This is not only a big time waster . . . but a huge,possibly criminal, violation of privacy.

The bottom line is this: when you are at

work . . . you are being paid to give your

clients your full attention. Unless it is an

emergency, keep your electronic

communications for when you are on a break

or at lunch.

STEER CLEAR OF THE GOSSIP

Another focus killer is gossip! Stay out of thegossip circles by not participating when you

see it happening. Remove yourself from any

conversation that targets a co-worker. If the

gossip is malicious or harmful, report it.

Gossip distracts you from the task at hand,

has no purpose, and can really bring down

morale.

HOW TO FOCUS AND STAY ON TASK

1. Being able to prioritize means

you know how to schedule

your day so that the most

important thing (at the time)

gets your full attention.

2. Its not enough to just reactto

situations as they arise.

Prioritizing helps you to look

ahead and predict what may

happen and be ready to head

off problems beforethey occur.

3. Organizing your day with clear

priorities will not only make

your day better, but it will

bring calmness and

predictability to your clients

day.

4. Physical and safety needs

are the most important

priorities for your clients. If

you are not prioritizing these

two basic needs . . . there willbe NO client to care for!

5. Setting priorities does

not have to be a time

consuming chore! Once you

get the hang of it, it should

only take you a few minutes

each day!


16/22


THE KEY TO PRIORITIZING YOUR DAY LIES IN:

Knowing what is important, and why,

Understanding how long it takes to do the things you need to do,

Responding to emergencies and interruptions without being

knocked off track,

Keeping a to do list with tasks numbered in order of importance,

and

Eliminating things like phone calls, texts, and gossip circles that

take your focus off your priorities!

AND, SOME FURTHER SUGGESTIONS:

When trying to schedule your time and set priorities, follow your

workplace guidelines first. Your employer will likely have a rough

routine for you to follow that dictates what needs to be done and

when.

For further guidance, look to Maslows Hierarchy of Needs.

Remember physical and safety needs should be your top priorities

and should be met first.

Try to arrive at work about ten minutes early each day. This will

keep you from feeling rushed, and will give you time to sit down

and plan out your day according to the needs of your particular

clients on that particular day.

Remember, your clients needs may change from day to

day. So the first thing you should always do is get report

or read the charts to find out what has changed. This will

give you the starting point for deciding what is most

important.

There will be days when you just cant get everything

done that is on your list. Be sure to let your supervisor

know what is being left, and if it is something that MUST

be done, be sure to pass it on to the next shift.

Making your to do list and prioritizing your day should

not be an exercise that makes more work for you. Once

you get the hang of it, you should be able to sketch out a

rough schedule in a few minutes!

Planning your day with clear priorities will leave you

feeling more productive and less stressed throughout

your day! In addition, your clients will benefit from your

new organizational skills as well!

FINAL TIPS FOR PRIORITIZING YOUR DAY

Now that youve read this inservice on

prioritizing, take a moment to jot down

a couple of things you learned that you

didnt know before.


17/22

Are you In the Know about prioritizing your work?

Circle the best choice. Then check your answers with your supervisor!

1. True or False

To prioritize means to arrange things in order of importance.

2. True or False

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs shows the need for self-esteem to be the most

important priority for all humans.

3. True or False

Elimination is an example of a physical need.

4. True or False

Prioritizing safety means you prevent problems instead of just reacting to

emergencies as they happen.

5. Your client has an order for Daily Weights. You cannot get to it before the

end of your shift because another client had an emergency. You should:

A. Try to remember to do it first thing the next day.

B. Let your supervisor know so the weight can be checked on the next shift.

C. Chart the previous days weight not much would have changed anyway.

D. Ignore the order, its not a priority.

6. True or False

Taking vital signs is not really a priority. You should just do it whenever you have

time to get to it.

7. True or False

When you work with the same clients every day, there is no need to get report or

read the chart.

8. True or False

Making a to do list can help you feel more organized and productive.

9. True or False

Its best to deal with a difficult client last. That way you wont get behind.

10. Fill in the Blanks

Difficult clients (or family members) may be acting out as a way of gaining

_____________________.

Inservice Credit:

Self Study1

hour

Group Study1hour

File completed test

in employees

personnel file.

EMPLOYEE NAME

(Please print):

________________________

DATE: __________________

I understand the

information presented inthis inservice.

I have completed this

inservice and answered at

least eight of the test

questions correctly.

EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE:

________________________

SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE:

________________________


How to Prioritize Your Work



18/22

1. True

To prioritize means to arrange things in order of importance. Being able to prioritize means you know

how to schedule your day so that the most important thing (at the time) gets your full attention.

2. FalseMaslows Hierarchy of Needs shows PHYSICAL NEEDS to be the most important priority for all humans.

Without oxygen, water, food, and elimination there will be NO LIFE.

3. True

Elimination is an example of a physical need.

4. True

Prioritizing safety means you prevent problems instead of just reacting to emergencies as they happen.

5. Your client has an order for Daily Weights. You cannot get to it before the end of your shift

because another client had an emergency. You should:

B. Let your supervisor know so the weight can be checked on the next shift. Daily weights are

ordered for several important reasons and should be a priority if ordered for your client.

6. False

Taking vital signs is a very important priority. Some of your clients medications and treatments may need to

be adjusted based on your assessments.

7. False

You should take time to get report or read charts at the start of every shift. Even if you have worked with

the client before, things change that will change the way you prioritize care.

8. True

Making a to do list can help you feel more organized and productive.

9. False

Its best to deal with a difficult client FIRST. That way you wont get behind. Putting difficult clients off

only prolongs your anxiety and theirs.

10. Fill in the Blanks

Difficult clients (or family members) may be acting out as a way of gaining CONTROL.

QUIZ ANSWER KEY




19/22

Below is a story made famous by author, Stephen

Covey, from his book, First Things First.

One day an expert in time management stood in front of a

group of high powered overachievers and said, "Okay, time

for a quiz."He put a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar on the table

in front of him. Then he pulled out about a dozen fist-sized

rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would

fit, he asked, "Is this jar full?"

Everyone in the class said, "Yes."

Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and

pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in

and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work

themselves down into the space between the big rocks.

Then he asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"

By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of

them answered.

"Good!" he replied.

He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of

sand. He dumped the sand in the jar and it went into all of

the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once

more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the class shouted.Once again he said, "Good."Then he grabbed a pitcher of

water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the

brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the

point of this illustration?"

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no

matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can

always fit some more things in it!"

"No," the speaker replied, "That's not the point. What this

teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll

never get them in, at all."

If you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you'll

fill your life with little things that don't really matter, and

you'll never have the real quality time you need to spend

on the big, important stuff (the big rocks).

WHAT ARE THE BIG ROCKS IN YOUR JOB AND YOUR LIFE?Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all.

MY BIG ROCKS AT WORK: MY PERSONAL BIG ROCKS: (family, savings, education, etc

WHAT ARE YOUR BIG ROCKS?




20/22

EMERGENCY SCENARIO: You work in a long term care

facility that has 20 residents. About 3 hours into your shift,

you look out the window and see blizzard-like conditions

and several inches of snow on the ground.

There are only two CNAs, one RN, a secretary, and a janitoron staff. Leaving is not an option. You call your family and

learn they are safe and snug at home.

About an hour later, the power goes out. The generator

kicks on so you have low lights but the heat is off and the

phones are out.

Each of you has a cell phone, but no chargers. The janitor

agrees to call the power company to report the outage. He

learns it may be as long as 24 hours before power can be

restored.

A battery powered radio is found and the weathermanreports this will be the storm of the century. He expects

nearly two feet of snow to fall over the next 24 hours.

The RN suggests moving all the residents into the main

dining room where there is a giant wood burning fire place.

The janitor agrees to start a fire but says once we get

everyone in the room, we need to be prepared to stay

there because every time the door is opened, the heat will

let out and the fire will be useless.

Everyone agrees to move the residents and hunker down.

Now, you have to decide what to bring to the dining room

(along with the residents) in order to survive over the nextday or two. Each person can only grab 2 things. There are

5 of you, so that means you have to choose the top 10 from

the following list. Here are your options:

1. A rolling linen cart filled with clean blankets, towels,

wash cloths, etc.

2. A cooler filled with ice for refrigerated medications.

3. A days worth of medications for each resident. Counts

as one item.4. The contents of your locker (your purse with your

make-up, magazines, your bagged meal from home,

and a change of clothes).

5. A change of clothes for each resident. Counts as one

item.

6. A bag of toiletries for each resident and staff member

(toothbrush, toothpaste, hair comb, lotion, soap).

Counts as one item.

7. A battery operated radio.

8. A bin filled with board games and cards from the

activity room.

9. Wood for the fire place (which is outside).

10. A television and DVD player on a rolling cart.

11. Each residents hard chart, for reading orders, charting

care, and family contact phone numbers. Counts as

one item.

12. A stack of pens and paper.

13. An emergency first aid kit that has bandages, ice packs,

peroxide, rubbing alcohol, etc.

14. A box of 10 emergency flashlights, all with working

batteries.15. A blood pressure cuff, stethoscope and thermometer.

*Dont worry about feeding people. You are in the dining

room, which is connected to the kitchen. So, you have all the

food you need.

INSTRUCTIONS: On a separate sheet of paper, make a list of your top ten items . . . in order of importance.

There are no right or wrong answers to this exercise. When you are finished, discuss your decisions and why

you prioritized the items the way you did.

IMPORTANT DECISIONS: A TEAMBUILDING ACTIVITY




21/22

Employee Name_________________________________________________________________________

Date__________________________ Self-Study Inservice Group-Study Inservice

1. Put a checkmark in the box that best describes how you feel about each learning objective.

2. Did you learn anything new that will help you in your job? Yes No

If yes, please explain: ____________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. If you have questions about the inservice information that did not get answered, note them here:

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

4. Other comments? ____________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

LEARNING OBJECTIVE I am able todo this.

I might be

able to do

this.I cant do

this. Im not sure.State at least two reasons why prioritizing your work is

important.

Outline Maslows Hierarchy of Needs theory and explain how

you can use it to prioritize your work.

Explain how prioritizing can help you deal with a difficult

client.

Discuss how setting goals and creating to do lists can help

you prioritize your work.

Develop your own flexible, prioritized daily work schedule that

is unique to your working environment.

EVALUATION




22/22

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