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 Love Me Some Robert Redford
Posts: 2335
  
Location: WV | Starting off I am the Unlit Clerk where I work and have been there for 5 years. It seems that things just keep getting added and I'm having issues with prioritizing I guess. Seems like I can not keep up with everything. Believe me when I say I have on more than one occasion told them my work load is too much. They always say we need to go over everyone job duties. Nothing ever happens except that yesterday the DON calls me in her office and says we need to work on making sure things are done. GRRR, I'm not saying that I make no mistakes or don't have my lazy moments, I am just so burned out right now. I don't know what to do. Sometimes I used as a personal assistant. Any ideas or tips would be appreciated from those that may work in the medical field or those just great at organization. I try to do a good job and don't like filling like I have not been doing my job correctly. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Sounds to me like you don't like your job. It sounds like it's just that a job. Are you lethargic going to work in the morning? Do you hate getting out of bed for work, but jump out on weekends and barrel race mornings?
I love coming to work and what I do. There are times when I get burnt out too, but something usually changes, a break, or what I'm working on, and it levels out. If you don't enjoy what you are doing, maybe you need to switch professions. |
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| I can't help you with your specific tasks. However, working in office settings for many years and with the tough economic times, every one has had to cut back and do more with less. This can take some really out-of-the-box thinking to determine what is really needed to do. Are some things being done 2x by different people? Does it make more sense for the tasks to be divvied up to different people to do the work that is more pertinent to them and not others? what can be combined into 1 step instead of multiple steps?
It is very difficult to change your thinking about things that you've been doing for a while. If you can come up with some potential solutions and take to your boss, perhaps you can help yourself and the unit out at the same time. Bosses much rather someone come to them with a solution already thought out instead of just problems. Just step back and try to think if you were someone new coming in and if it makes sense the way things are currently being done.
Good Luck. |
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  Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
 
Location: Dearing, GA | I would ask if you could stay late or come in early one day to get everything on your plate knocked out- essentially just catch up. Then, make a list of duties you have. Order them by importance or immediacy. Then starting fresh the next day, use that as your guideline. If someone asks why things aren't getting done, show them where their task falls on your priorities list and say that until you get some relief, this is how it's going to get done. |
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Expert
Posts: 1690
| The medical field is getting hit extra hard. The nurses are not able to care for their patients like they used to do either. Problem with that is its the Nurses who will be sued. I feel for the unit secretaries also. The workload and just the sharp focus you must have the entire shift is not something most "normal" jobs require. Healthcare jobs are not always the great jobs that you hear are so wonderful and high paying! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 738
Location: Anywhere my horses are ! Lost in Texas!!!!! | I feel for you,I used to enjoy my job. Not now after the boss threatened me. Hope it works out for you. |
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Love Me Some Robert Redford
Posts: 2335
Location: WV | I do like my job and I have no issue getting up and going there. Really not feeling that I have done a good job or that I am questioned with my work really bothers me. In this position, I am the only person that has held it for this long. It seems there is always talk of things changing and nothing happens but I am thankful that I do have a job. Thanks for all the replies. |
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Member
Posts: 18
| Just a few ideas that have helped me
1) Check emails and respond to the quick easy ones right away ( I usually spend about 1/2 hr in the morning)
2) Make 3 folders ( these can be hard copies or on your email) Mark them High Med Low...as stuff comes up put them in the folders this will help you prioritize what needs to get done with the goal that all high/med are completed by the end of the week or by deadline dates
3) see if one day a week you can adjust your work hours for example if you work 8-4:30 see if you can do a 7-3:30 sometimes this hour (when others don't know you will be in) can give you that little bit if undisturbed time to get a lot accomplished.
You sound like an awesome employee who takes a lot of pride in their work. Do what you can and know that low priority items will be there next week. When you leave work try- really try to "leave it there". Go home and enjoy family, friends and animals!
I also agree with the poster that said about coming up with solutions and taking it to management..as a manager I LOVE when people come forward with a problem and a solution..sometimes we have to adjust the solution but that's ok!
With todays economy lots of us are getting additional work- we need to get creative on ways to make the work load manageable.
Good luck and remember all jobs have peaks and valleys :-) |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | Ditto on takeing it to your boss. One idea when you are meeting with them,,,,,, I have been thinking about our discusion the other day. This is what I have in mind to correct the situtation ________. And do you have any sugestions on improving efficiency.
Also, document what you do all day, times, every day. Might need it to Cover Your *ss.
My goober head boss,(he was new to this position) threw me under the bus twice with the same comment of I don't follow thru. (?????) Later that day when I saw him alone, I asked him what he concidered not following thru. That I am not a mind reader and need to have this information to make corrections. And if he ever had something he was concerned about, again, in my preformance, he needed to bring it to me first, instead of broadcasing it in front of his boss. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 557
Location: Kansas and loving it | Been there. During the Bush years it was called restructuring, finding economic ways to be more efficiently staffed. This last time they called it streamlining, giving personnel tasks they excel at. None of it works because you don't have a steady patient load. Then they were bought out and got rid of LCD. Funny they don't have enough money to have more staff but keep buying other doctors practice. Good luck to you. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 907
Location: a secret | I am in the medical field and it is tough no matter what job you hold. I can suggest coming up with some good ideas that your position could benefit from to you make you more effective and bring to your DON. Remember its always the people who do the job come up with the best ideas for improvement. Suggest a meeting with her and a good time to talk she will be impressed with your suggestions. Myself being in management it is always refreshing to hear someone who says hey I have an idea and i think this could work. You will not only better your job you may also beneift the entire unit. Good Luck hang in there you have a tough job. |
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| I am a nurse. We use to run our own medical office. I closed it 2 years ago. The new demands in healthcare are getting TOTALLY ABSURD! It is hurting patient care PERIOD!! I feel bad for you in your position. I have seen more clinic & hospitals throw more work load on EVERYONE! The regulations that are suppose to make health care better are distracting from what really is the whole point, taking care of PEOPLE!! What to say to an employer that is simply giving you TOO much work? You can ask for someone higher up to shadow you for a few days. Let them know where you are having problems, but also let them experience the problems. Like that show "Under-Cover Boss", they need to experience what you are going through first hand to truly understand the problem. IF YOU are the cause, then you need to be honest w/yourself and get organized. Several things I INSISTED on as an employer was 1) EAT breakfast at home, DON"T bring food to work except your lunch, and no eating at your work space 2) NO CELL PHONES in the office AND ONLY TRUE EMERGENCY CALLS during business hours 3) Computers are for work ONLY!! NO personal stuff is to be done AT ALL in my office. YES, this includes getting on BHW!!
Some people may find these rules harsh, but when I was an employee, I followed these rules. I think to prevent a employee from being distracted, these rules must be followed. I had some of the BEST employees, and we compensated them as such. I weeded out a LOT of employees that did not make the grade. Again, you have to be honest w/what is really going on at your desk, where you are productive, but where you may be weak. IF you are being given more than you can handle, you need to let the boss know. Suggest ways to your job more effective if you have a boss who is open to suggestions. But be aware that if you are being over-loaded w/work, right now you are far from being alone. The fact you have been given a notice of concern tells me you had better step up to the plate NOW. You may be on a watch list, so put your best foot forward, as they say, and give it all you got! Good luck!!
Edited by bingo 2014-01-18 12:28 PM
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | You have received some good advice. In today's work environment we are all being asked to do more with less.
- DO begin keeping a log of everything you do -- keep a legal pad or notebook beside you and DOCUMENT everything you do. Think of it as your "task list" so you will have your work load documented! This includes phone calls you receive...people who walk up to your desk that you must take care of. Everything. I would recommend you keep this log for a minimum of one month. If you can also jot down the time it took to accomplish the task that would be great, too.
If your supervisor says something to you about you having time to take these task notes, explain to her/him that having a list of exactly what you do is important -- so that you can do a better job, i.e. in order to become more efficient, you need to understand and know exactly what you are doing day in an day out and how long it takes you so you can better organize your work day and organize your office and tasks. Also, you may learn there are tasks you are doing that should be done by someone else -- or maybe should NOT be done at all anymore. Maybe certain tasks no longer add value to your organization.....
Take a bit of time to think about how your office and desk are set-up. Is it set-up and organized in the most efficient manner? Are all of the items you need and use within reach and access? Are you wasting time and energy to get what you need?
Think about the forms (if you use forms) you use. Can some be combined? Are all forms really necessary? Can you reduce the amount of paper you deal with?
Think about the system - or way - you are currently doing certain tasks. Is there a way to trim the time and streamline a task? cut the fat?
Any of these things you can do will save your organization time and money! And will reduce your stress level tremendously!!!!
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
Location: Kentucky | I really feel for you. As an unit clerk you have to be there for the doctors, nurses, management, families, patients, and whom ever else needs you. I don't know what the answer is, but I know your job is very important to the staff. As a nurse I try not to ask the unit clerk to do anything I am not willing to do or I have time to do. I may not have time to always put my own orders in but if I do than I do them. I know not all nurses all that way. You will have to prioritize your task. What is the most important at that time, and do it first. I am not sure management is going to be much help. For the most part they don't understand your job. They do in theory, but not to sit there and start a task and have family come to the desk and ask a question, a dr to throw a chart that needs orders taken off, a nurse telling you they call dr whatever are waiting on a call back, x-ray calling you to tell you that they need patient in room 211, the call lights going off and the telephone ringing, all at the same time. Like I said do the most important task first and go from there. Always remember hospitals are a 24/7/365 day a year job and if you have to leave something the next person can start there. Sorry you are stressed, you really do have a hard job. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Can you delegate some of your work?
For example, if someone forgets to put down a credit card for a customer, I make the person who helped them call to get it. Start holding people accountable for their mistakes. Make people be thorough so you don't have to go around figuring out the last piece of the puzzle. If that person had done their job in the first place, they wouldn't have to be calling the customer to get a CC on file!! |
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Love Me Some Robert Redford
Posts: 2335
Location: WV | There is so much good advice here from you guys. Even though my DON said not to feel picked on that she had a list for others also, it's just hard. I did think that I better watch and try to step up my game since there was talk. I was not written up or told that this was a verbal warning or anything but want to improve where I need to. Being good at my job is important to me., I have kept a ledger of everything I do on a daily basis and guess I should restart this. There is also no way of delegating some task out, it's all me! Also, I don't think management is going to be able to fix this unless they can also figure a way to delegate things differently. They don't know what it's like to do my job and they only know what it looks like on paper. Not was what is actually like to do the job.
Edited by mam0329 2014-01-18 8:45 PM
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