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10 Worst Time Wasters at Work
Tania Khadder | NursingLink
Culprit #1: Instant Messaging
While instant messaging can be a useful tool, its generally informal (and instant!) nature can also make it productivity’s worst enemy. How many times has a discussion about something work related quickly degenerated into a half-hour gossip session? And there’s always someone with a lot less to do who will tempt you into a chat marathon.
The solution: If you can’t disconnect completely, at least set your status to “Busy” for a good portion of the day. This will help deter frivolous chatter. If someone insists on bothering you with non-work related chit-chat, tell them (politely) that you are in the middle of something and ask if you can pick up the conversation another time (maybe during your lunch break?). Don’t feel bad about it – no one will fault you for your silence if you’ve got work to do. If they do, you probably don’t want to be chatting with them anyway.
NancyMueh
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
I agree with everyone below me. I don't get time for a break let alone read emails or instant messages. I work and run so much that I wouldn't even feel my phone buzz in my pocket. The only I use the computer for is ordering meds and looking at VS. I'd like to work where I had any time to have any of these time wasting issues.
kimmyrn
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
None of these times wasters are appropriate for this bedside RN, being continuously "poked" re: OT because of charting after next shift arrives to care for the patients. When I sit @ the computer to chart during shift, I am usually interupted by call light, pt. family, co-worker requiring assistance, phone calls on the portable phone, etc. This is what I deal with every shift of work. Not meetings, never personal emails, not IM, not cig break.
jfpatter
almost 2 years ago
6 comments
This is a wonderful article! I have worked at the bedside and away from it. The stress, burnout and turnover in the nursing profession can be generated by the work practices and attitudes of individual staff. Thank you.
deegrimmett
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
Who are these people. I run my entire shift, eat on the go, and rarely get a potty break. I haven't had a real, not working, lunch break in 20 years. Bedside care is WORK. and shifts are demanding. This article was a complete waste of my time.
woosy1313
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
The article is useless to the majority of nurses who provide bedside patient care. A total waste of my time.
saturley2000
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
Not a good article for anyone who see patients. Reading it, wasted some of my day off.
vicmcd
almost 2 years ago
8 comments
This is completely a waste of time. What nurse... actual patient care person, has time for any of this? This article however does point to a growing problem in nursing, everybody wants to be a manager or office person, WHO is going to take care of the patients? NO ONE, that's who. Unless you think about the over worked, under paid LPN's who do actual assessments, away from the desk. But they are not "actually" nurses are they?
NurseT2009
almost 2 years ago
10 comments
Yeah this is NOT for bedside nursing!!! None of this applies.
mrsclaus1
almost 2 years ago
4 comments
This article does not related to bedside nursing at all!
Lilywhiteazz
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
I do not agree with this list AT ALL unless you are management. NO ONE has time to be doing all the online stuff this warns against. Who has time to check email that often? if it is work email, i check it at the beginning of my shift and later that day MAYBE. Urgent email? Hardly. If it is urgent someone will be giving you a call.