[pirap]

When I worked Med/Surg had 7 patients on a daily basis almost all the time. Worked 3-11. There were many nights when I didn't get done until 12-1am. It was so overwhelming that I finally left the job. I had to. Yes there was an occasional time management issue--mainly getting trapped in a patients room and talking-but mostly it was just running around like a chicken with its head cut-off trying to decide where to start. We were so understaffed.

Since transferring to the job where I never want to leave I almost always get out on time. Now I work 6:45am to 7:15pm. Sometimes I stay a few minutes over but not often. My home life has changed dramatically. I am not tired anymore and I never dread going to work(except being away from my kids).

Make sure you get all your big stuff done and your charting is done. Don't chart fancy-just get to the point. If you chart by exception don't write what you don't have to. We don't have to chart when we gave pain meds-but I sometimes do just to have a few extra entries..basically its a time waster. If your coworkers complain ask them exactly what they expected you to do if they feel you missed something big and leave it at that-don't try to explain "why" it wasn't done. Since you are new talk to your "regular" charge nurse(not the relief charge) or manager and let them give you some guidance on what THEY expect. Some nurses just like to complain and want everyone else to do their job..its a 24 hour job. I've stopped worrying about it.

[queenjean]

I will stay over 15-20 minutes for routine stuff. Not any longer, because that is crap that can be passed on to the other shift.

I will stay over as long as it takes to finish something out of the ordinary--a code, admission paperwork--things that *I* really need to do, that would cause an inordinate about of time and trouble for the oncoming shift.

If you are having to stay over hours after each shift, there is something terribly wrong either with your time management skills or your facility's staffing. No one should have to stay over hours and hours consistently.

ETA: I would NEVER clock out first. If I'm off the clock, I'm not at work!

[Nursing On The Run]

ITA with pelsmith (?) who said, don't work for free. Don't clock out and then stick around working.

I quit working about 6 months ago, which has given me some clarity on the issue that I didn't have when I was the "chicken with my head cut off" trying to get the impossible workload done.

Here is my new clarity: Take care of yourself. Take your breaks, go to the bathroom. Eyeball your patients, give their meds and sign off immediately, assess fully ASAP (emphasis on possible) and write up immediately. Stay after if patient needs help during a medical crisis. Otherwise, develop a thick skin and an unflinching stare. Tell the oncoming shift what you didn't get done, and don't apologize.

Guess what? If you are doing your best, and you're not a bozo, and you can't get all your work done, it's not b/c there is a problem with YOU. It's b/c there's a problem with the WORKLOAD. Sometimes it seems like nursing is based on what a few brilliant, experienced, perfect people can do-- and then everyone is held to their standard. If you're smart, caring, and doing your best, then what you get done is your full day's work. Not what someone else could do.

And I think you'll get less ******** if you seem less apologetic. It is what it is. And don't work for free, whatever you do. You're not a slave and this is America. Take your lunch, go to the bathroom, and you'll be a better nurse and maybe won't get burned out like so many.

P.S. I plan to go back to work one day (right now it's best for my family as a whole to be a stay-at-home mom) and when I do, I won't be afraid of getting fired. I am constantly getting calls and mail from prospective employers, LOL. They want me bad! And one day, if they treat me right, they'll get me. I'm a good nurse, btw. But if another nurse was able to get more done, I just say God Bless her or him. Way to go. Nothing to do with me.

Take care.