Final answer:
A newly appointed nurse manager should initially keep a time log to understand their current time use patterns. Setting daily goals, understanding organizational culture, and establishing boundaries to protect personal time are also crucial steps in managing one's time effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a newly appointed nurse manager struggling with time management, an experienced manager's first piece of advice should be to keep a time log of your day in hourly blocks for at least 1 week. By doing this, the new manager can identify patterns, recognize time wasters, and understand how they are currently spending their time. This is a critical first step in time management as it lays the groundwork for identifying areas that can be improved.
Additional advice includes setting daily goals and establishing priorities for each hour and day. Setting priorities at the end of each day for the next day can help ensure realistic expectations and create a focused plan for time management. Also, it is beneficial to set boundaries between work and personal time, minimize distractions from tasks like constantly checking emails, and protect private time by turning off electronic communications when off duty.
During the first week, taking the initiative to meet with a manager to discuss job responsibilities and priorities is crucial. Understanding the organization's culture and norms will also help in managing time effectively, as will observing and emulating the behaviors of colleagues. For long-term success, setting measurable goals for specific timeframes, and actively seeking ways to contribute to the team's priorities are recommended strategies.