Novice Nurse Series: How to Prepare Novice Nurses to Prioritize Multiple Patients

For novice nurses and nursing students, stepping into the clinical setting can feel like a whirlwind of demands. One of the most daunting challenges is the task of prioritization—identifying and addressing the patient with the highest acuity needs while juggling multiple other responsibilities. Prioritization is a skill that nurses need to deliver effective and compassionate patient care.

Yet, the transition from classroom to bedside reveals a troubling gap. One nursing journal article reported, based on assessed data between 2016-2020, that only 9% of newly graduated nurses were competent to provide basic, entry-level care. This disconnect leaves many feeling unprepared for the realities of practice, where confidence and competence are essential for navigating competing demands and delivering safe care.

In this Novice Nurse Series, UbiSim is shedding light on the ways nurse educators can teach new nurses how to work with specific populations. 

Why Prioritization Feels Overwhelming for Novice Nurses

Student nurses may have trained with manikins or practiced in groups during a lab or simulation session. This training is crucial but does not always mimic the real-life nursing challenges including the human factor of caring for patients and the demanding clinical environment. This leaves many novice nurses unsure of how to proceed successfully.  Here are some reasons they may feel overwhelmed: 

• Lack of clinical exposure: Classroom simulations can’t fully replicate the unpredictability of real-world patient care. Novice nurses frequently report increased levels of stress and disillusionment as they transition to the reality of their nursing role.
• Competing demands: Jumping from the classroom to being pulled in multiple directions in the buzzing clinical setting can make a novice nurse frazzled. Balancing patient care, documentation, staffing shortages, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams can feel unmanageable.
• Fear of mistakes: Without confidence in their prioritization skills, novice nurses may second-guess decisions, leading to delays or errors. 

This steep learning curve can affect patient outcomes, nurse retention, and workplace morale. Addressing these challenges is essential to fostering a confident and competent nursing workforce.

Ways to Prepare Novice Nurses for Prioritization

Teach them to apply an acuity framework

Start with the ABCs

Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABCs) are the cornerstone of effective prioritization in nursing. These fundamental principles focus on what’s most essential for preserving life. If one of these three essential functions to sustain life are compromised, imminent complications will follow.  Teaching novice nurses to apply the ABCs as a decision-making framework helps them focus on critical, life-saving actions first.

Use the CURE Hierarchy

The CURE method is a simple yet powerful tool to help nurses manage competing demands. It breaks down priorities into four clear categories:

• Critical needs: Immediate threats to life.
• Urgent needs: Situations that require prompt attention but are not life-threatening.
• Routine needs: Ongoing tasks that support patient care.
• Extras: Non-essential tasks that can wait.

This hierarchy helps new nurses focus their energy where it matters most, especially in busy clinical environments or in attempting to meet multiple patient needs. 

Leverage Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s framework offers a broader perspective on prioritization. Nurses can use it to ensure basic physiological needs like breathing and hydration are met before addressing higher-level concerns like emotional support or self-esteem. It’s a reminder that the best care starts with the essentials and builds from there.

By combining these frameworks, nurse educators can help novice nurses feel more confident navigating the complex and dynamic challenges of patient care.

Utilize Virtual Reality to Master Prioritization

UbiSim’s immersive virtual reality (VR) platform revolutionizes how nursing students learn prioritization and delegation. With our immersive technology, learners can explore dynamic healthcare environments and work with realistic patients.

During the pre-brief, learners can be tasked with prioritizing between multiple patients and their needs, fostering critical thinking from the start. Each patient scenario will unfold in real time and learners can progress through each patient case consecutively. 

Afterward, debriefing encourages discussions around decision-making and prioritization:

• Did they have to alter their care plan? Why?
• What strategies worked, and what could they improve?
• Did I prioritize patients correctly? Did I choose to see the most acute patient first? Why? 

With UbiSim, learners gain practical experience in prioritization within a safe and controlled environment, preparing them to confidently navigate the complexities of real-world nursing. The UbiSim platform not only enhances learning outcomes but also empowers the next generation of nurses to deliver exceptional patient care.

Encourage with the Gibbs Reflective Cycle

Reflection is a powerful tool for learning prioritization. After clinical shifts or simulations, ask learners to reflect. Introduce a specific framework like the Gibbs Reflective Cycle to help nurses critically analyze situations. This cycle encourages them to go through six steps:

1. Description: What happened?
2. Feelings: What were you thinking and feeling?
3. Evaluation: What was good or bad about the experience?
4. Analysis: What sense can you make of the situation?
5. Conclusion: What could you have done differently?
6. Action Plan: How will you handle similar situations in the future?

This structured approach encourages deep reflection and practical learning from each experience.

Final Thoughts: Building a Foundation for Growth

Prioritization is more than a skill—it’s the foundation for a nurse’s growth and confidence in the profession. While the early days of balancing multiple patients can feel overwhelming, tools like UbiSim’s VR platform and thoughtful guidance from educators and mentors transform these challenges into opportunities for learning.

By equipping novice nurses with critical thinking skills, reflective practices, and real-world experience, we prepare them not just to survive their shifts but to thrive in their careers. With the right support, they’ll be equipped to deliver safe, compassionate, and effective care.