1. Unit two: Strategies for Professional Practice II: Time Management
A. Analysis Using the Pareto Principle

2. TIME MANAGEMENT
Defined as a “set of related common-sense skills that helps you use your time in the most effective and productive way possible” (Mind Tools, 2006a)
Requires self examination
Requires analysis of how time is currently being used
Requires assessment of distractions

3. TIME ANALYSIS
Perform an activity log for several days to determine how both personal and professional time is being used
Record every activity from the beginning of the day until the end

4. SAMPLE WORK ACTIVITY LOG
Time
Name of activity
Time required and feelings
Could be better done by someone else
Toward what outcome achievement
0500
Treadmill
30 min-energetic
Keep for self
Fitness
0530
Shower & Breakfast
45 min-energetic
Health
0630
Drive to work
10 min- alert
Get to work
0700
Hand off shift report
15 min-alert
Patient identification
0730
Pt rounds/
planning
prioritize pts

5. ANALYSIS OF ACTIVITY LOG
PARETO PRINCIPLE states that 20% of focused effort produces 80% of results, or conversely that 80% of unfocused effort produces 20% of results
How to use the Principle: remember to focus our efforts on the most important outcomes and develop plans to achieve these outcomes maximizing the results we get

6. EXAMPLE OF USE OF THIS PRINCIPLE
For example when a nurse begins a shift, it is good to pause immediately after the hand-off shift report and prioritize the outcomes and activities for the shift.
If the nurse focuses on “functions” rather than patient priorities it is possible to overlook “priority patient outcomes”

7. APPLICATION OF PARETO PRINCIPLE TO NURSE’S ACTIVITY LOG
Nurse reviews the log asking self how the Pareto principle would apply
Has 20% of the effort resulted in 80% of the outcome achievement

8. IF ACTIVITIES HAVE NOT ACHIEVED DESIRED OUTCOME
If the activities have not achieved the desired outcomes, the nurse needs to change activities and focus on priorities
Identify most energetic time of day: activities that take focus and creativity done during high energy times
Dull, repetitive tasks should be done during low energy times
Time needs to be scheduled for rest, exercise, and nutrition

9. THREE WAYS TO CREATE MORE TIME
Delegate work to others or hire someone else to do the work for you
Eliminate the task in favor of other tasks
Get up earlier in the day
1.Delegate work to others: may take time to teach to someone else, but saves time and energy in the future
Hire someone else to do the work for you or eliminate the task in favor of other tasks
If chore is boring and mundane, it makes more sense to work an hour more at a job one enjoys in order to pay for someone else to do unrewarding boring work
2. Eliminate the tasks that add no value in favor of other tasks
Get up earlier in the day
3. Get up earlier in the day: This only works if you go to bed earlier (perhaps eliminating “useless activities” such as watching tv)