[cherokeesummer]

I like the tips but the sample routine is definately not anything like our day...especially the parts like ask for vitals from assistants (we don't have those), get charge nurse to start IV (we start our own), get blood sugars from lab (we do our own blood sugars) etc. etc. etc.

But the tips were GREAT!

[NurseNayin07]

Thanks for posting. The tips were good, but unfortunately, my days don't go that smoothly... and we hardly get discharges and admissions at exactly 1000! I've gotten admits as late as 1830 on my shift! I almost always chart as I go (I have a computer on wheels AKA COW... and I chart my assessments as I go from room to room in the morning) but it is still so easy to get behind and not get out at 1900. It seems that something ALWAYS goes wrong at change of shift to put me behind.

[truern]

We're not allowed to pull meds that early...and especially not allowed to place them in patient drawers, labeled or not.

[nurseby07]

That was a great piece to obviously take what you can from. Here is what I do, night shift-8 months in to this profession!

1845 Arrive to work
1915: Assignments are out. Grab report sheets and find nurses for report.
1945: See pt's, get vitals, sign mars, make mental notes of what to grab for 2100 med pass- fluids, tpn, tf, depends, etc.
2100: Pass all meds for 2100 & 2200
2200 Chart
2300 cbgs, q4 vitals
0000: Mars, chart check.
0100: turns, pain meds.
0200: eat for 3 minutes, pager going off constantly
0300: q4 vitals, assessments clean up rooms, night baths, turns
0400: Chart, "No changes from 2100 assessment" hopefully..
0500: pain meds, lab draws, report sheets, turns
0600: pain meds, final clean-ups turns, help other people
0700: hunt down nurses to give report to
0800: Get kids off to school
0830: Food,glass of wine
1500: Wake up in a stupor to do it all again!

What about you guys??

[LPN0207]

Here is a sample of my day. I work 3-11p in a small hospital, usually 3 nurses total, two on the floor and 1 in the ER. Admits can come at any time during the shift, and of course, they usually show up at med pass or shift change...fun. I just celebrated 1 year in the nursing profession a few weeks ago!

1445:arrive at work, get report sheets, fill in the census (names) and wait for report
1500: report, lasts about 45-60 min, depending on how many pts there are, assignments made after report.
1600: fly around getting any vitals needed, pull meds and give
1630: accuchecks
1700: hopefully have time to get some charting done
1800: med pass, again, may have time to grab something to eat (MAYBE)
1900: chart some more
2000: med pass
2100:breathe (usually)
2200: may have a med pass
2300: give report to oncoming shift
2400: Leave!!

That looks simple, but usually, I am always busy. Talking to doctors, noting orders and giving PRN's in the meantime. Time goes by fast!

[Bella36RN]

1830: arrive at work, get census
1900: listen to ALL reports...urggg
1930: do assessments, vital signs...depending on how many patients I have it usually takes me 45 minutes to an hour
2000: pull all 2100 meds and chart until time to give
2100: give all 2100 meds and do finger sticks and pull 2200 meds
2200: give 2200 meds
2300: chart checks
0000: vital signs
0100: take a break and get a bite to eat
0200: fill the rooms up with new IV bags so when the one hanging gets done all the day shift has to do is change it
0300: restock everything
0400: vital signs
0500: get 0600 meds together
0600: gather IandOs, daily weights, give meds
0700: give report and go home to sleep