Time Management Tips for Busy Healthcare Professionals

When she first began practicing on her own, Amberly Nunez, MD, FASCP, found herself getting stressed out on exceptionally busy days, especially when numerous specimens were coming into the frozen room. Since then, she has learned to pace herself, take a deep breath and do her best to manage a crazy busy schedule.

“I go about the process systematically so that I do the same steps each time in handling every frozen section specimen,” Dr. Nunez said. “I perform the tasks as quickly as I can, but not so fast that it compromises patient care or the most correct diagnosis that can be given at the time. I know I can only do so much at one time and just start chipping away until everything has been completed.”

We like to think that we control our schedule, not the reverse. But that takes perseverance and planning. And, healthcare professionals’ lives are often hectic, making it important to have strategies for staying calm and focused.

Prioritization is important for laboratory professional Raquel M. Martinez, PhD.

“I am a list maker,” she said. “My list of tasks helps me to stay on track, with the priority items at the top. Everything else will have to wait. Letting things go gets easier.”