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HOW TO PRIORITIZE
A Professional Growth Module:
YOUR WORK
1998-2012
May be copied for use within each physical
location that purchases this inservice.
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 Instructions for the Learner page.
2. The 10 Page Inservice newsletter.
3. OPTIONAL: This inservice oers a great opportunity to review CNA job descriptions. Consider
adding a copy of each employees job description.
4. The Quiz page.
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
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 nished, ask for some ideas of what the "Big Rocks" are for the workplace. Write the
suggestions on a ipchart, 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 eort. 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 inuenced 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 dierently if you were asked to do it again?
2012 In the Know, Inc.
SUGGESTED PARTICIPATORY ACTIVITIES
A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
Developing Top-Notch CNAs, One Inservice at a Time
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
2012 In the Know, Inc.
PLEASE NOTE:
Your sta may enjoy the
following related In the Know
inservices:

Reporting and
Documenting Client Care
Dealing with Family
Members
Working With Dicult &
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, they
are available for purchase by
calling our toll-free number:
SUGGESTED TEACHING TIPS
A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
Developing Top-Notch CNAs, One Inservice at a Time
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 fullling physical needs and safety
needs rst. Without prioritizing the physical and safety needs . . . There may be NO client to care for!

DISCUSSION QUESTION #2
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.

DISCUSSION QUESTION #3
What are the main types of things that keep you from fullling 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 dicult and demanding client who is ordering you to check her blood pressure because
she feels her heart uttering. On your way to her room, you notice another client on the oor 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?

2012 In the Know, Inc.
SUGGESTED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
Developing Top-Notch CNAs, One Inservice at a Time
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 explain
how you can use it to
prioritize your work.

Explain how prioritizing can
help you deal with a
dicult client.

Discuss how setting goals
and creating to do lists
can help you prioritize
your work.

Develop your own exible,
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 all the material. You may nd 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 feedback@knowingmore.com 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

Developing Top-Notch CNAs, One Inservice at a Time
A Professional Growth Module:
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
2012 In the Know, Inc.
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.

Developing Top-Notch CNAs, One Inservice at a Time
In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy nds
herself in a strange environment
(Munchkin Land) with a huge task
ahead 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 becomes
important to know how to set
priorities.
When you plan your day by setting
clear and appropriate priorities, you
are paving your own yellow brick
road!
Of course, even the
best brick road can
have potholes or
lead 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.
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.
Its not enough to just react to 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 o problems before they 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 dicult 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 o 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 much
more 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
before she 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 a
few 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 nd out if there has been any change
in status.
For example, Mr. Smith may have seemed ne 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 dierent 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 things
on his own.
Grab your favorite highlighter! As you read through this
inservice, highlight ve things you learn that you didnt
know before. Share this new information with your
supervisor and co-workers!
2012 In the Know, Inc. Page 3 A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
While each individual person will have dierent needs at dierent
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 nd 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 eective caregiver
you can beyou have to be able to
meet your own Hierarchy of Needs!
List two things in each category that
YOU do for yourself that 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
2012 In the Know, Inc. Page 4 A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
You may have recognized from Maslows chart that the physical
needs include ones that must be met in order to sustain life. They
include:
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 only priority!
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, diculty 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,
nd 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 dierently for
these two clients:
Bathing
Dressing
Grooming
Oral Care
Toileting
Walking
Discuss the dierences 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
2012 In the Know, Inc. Page 5 A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
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 the
same time as 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 sure
everyone 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 oor, or spilled food or uids.
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 your
supervisor 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 needs
to 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 dierence 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
2012 In the Know, Inc. Page 6 A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
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 aect 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 of
developing 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 uid restrictions and those
who have orders to push uids.
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 uids.
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 pretty
quickly.
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 eortlessly?
Do you have any pointers for
me to better structure my time
and get the most important
things done rst?
OLD PROS: Are you experienced,
organized and condent in your
abilities? Then, share your secret!
If you see someone struggling to
keep it all together, ask:
I see you are having a hard
time. 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 . . .
WORST THINGS FIRST! Its human nature to avoid things that may
be hard or uncomfortable. This is no dierent in the medical eld
when dealing with dicult clients. You want to 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 dicult client is the worst thing you could do. Putting
dicult clients o only prolongs your anxiety and theirs. Its best to
take care of these clients rst! Heres how:
Identify "High Need" or Dicult Clients
There is usually one (or more) on every shift! Be prepared, in
advance, to budget and spend more time 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. Dicult 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 dicult
demands!
Heap on Kindness!
Its okay to spoil your clients (a little)! Try to remember what your
dicult 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!
2012 In the Know, Inc. Page 7 A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
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
oor, x the rubber stopper on her
walker, and make sure she is
prepared for a power outage with a
ashlight 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 you
prioritize 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 nd out how they would solve
the problem.
2012 In the Know, Inc. Page 8 A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
Time management and setting priorities go hand-in-hand. When you
manage your time well, you will handle all your priorities . . . and, when
you 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 o as you go along. This can be a very satisfying way of
making sure you are doing what needs to be done and not wasting
time 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 nish.
If you get o track because of an emergency . . . just pick up where
you left o 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 nd 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 late
to complete it. Be sure to ask your supervisor for
permission to stay late. Some companies have policies
regarding overtime.
3. The nal 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 add your work 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 exible, 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 order
of 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 rst things rst. Indeed, the reason most
major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing
second things rst. ~ Author Unknown
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2012 In the Know, Inc. Page 9 A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
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 regarding
electronic 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
prole 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 the
gossip 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 react to
situations as they arise.
Prioritizing helps you to look
ahead and predict what may
happen and be ready to head
o problems before they 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 will
be 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!
2012 In the Know, Inc. Page 10 A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
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 o 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 o your priorities!
AND, SOME FURTHER SUGGESTIONS:
When trying to schedule your time and set priorities, follow your
workplace guidelines rst. 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 rst.
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 rst thing you should always do is get report
or read the charts to nd 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 benet 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.










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 rst 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 dicult client last. That way you wont get behind.
10. Fill in the Blanks
Dicult clients (or family members) may be acting out as a way of gaining
_____________________.
Inservice Credit:
Self Study
1
hour
Group Study
1
hour
File completed test
in employees
personnel le.
EMPLOYEE NAME
(Please print):
________________________
DATE: __________________

I understand the
information presented in
this inservice.
I have completed this
inservice and answered at
least eight of the test
questions correctly.

EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE:
________________________
SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE:
________________________
A Professional Growth Module:
How to Prioritize Your Work

Developing Top-Notch CNAs, One Inservice at a Time
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. False
Maslows 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 dicult client FIRST. That way you wont get behind. Putting dicult clients o
only prolongs your anxiety and theirs.
10. Fill in the Blanks
Dicult clients (or family members) may be acting out as a way of gaining CONTROL.
QUIZ ANSWER KEY
A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
Developing Top-Notch CNAs, One Inservice at a Time
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 st-sized
rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.
When the jar was lled to the top and no more rocks would
t, 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 lled 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 t 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 rst, you'll
never get them in, at all."
If you sweat the little stu (the gravel, the sand) then you'll
ll 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 stu (the big rocks).
WHAT ARE THE BIG ROCKS IN YOUR JOB AND YOUR LIFE?
Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in rst 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?
A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
Developing Top-Notch CNAs, One Inservice at a Time
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 janitor
on sta. 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 o 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 weatherman
reports 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 re place.
The janitor agrees to start a re 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 re 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 next
day 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 lled with clean blankets, towels,
wash cloths, etc.
2. A cooler lled 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 sta member
(toothbrush, toothpaste, hair comb, lotion, soap).
Counts as one item.
7. A battery operated radio.
8. A bin lled with board games and cards from the
activity room.
9. Wood for the re 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 rst aid kit that has bandages, ice packs,
peroxide, rubbing alcohol, etc.
14. A box of 10 emergency ashlights, all with working
batteries.
15. A blood pressure cu, 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 nished, discuss your decisions and why
you prioritized the items the way you did.
IMPORTANT DECISIONS: A TEAMBUILDING ACTIVITY
A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
Developing Top-Notch CNAs, One Inservice at a Time
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 to
do 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 dicult
client.

Discuss how setting goals and creating to do lists can help
you prioritize your work.

Develop your own exible, prioritized daily work schedule that
is unique to your working environment.

EVALUATION
A Professional Growth Module: How to Prioritize Your Work
Developing Top-Notch CNAs, One Inservice at a Time
Keep New Inservices Coming Your Way!
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