I know nursing is a 24 hour job but...

[502Nurse]

Where do you draw the line in finishing work that should have/could have been done on the previous shift? I can understand to a point, but when I get put behind several hours finishing up stuff the other shift didn't get to do (ie. tallying I&O's, etc.), it puts my shift's work behind too. Is this just the nature of nursing? Just wondering how other people handle this, or if I should get used to it.

[Flo1216]

One time an 11-7 nurse on peds went home without signing that she had given the 7AM dose of Mestinon to an 18 year old pt with Myasthenia Gravis. So I (as a student) gave the 7 am dose. I was about to give the 12PM dose when the 11-7 nurse called and said that she had give the Mestinon at 7am but had forgotten to sign for it. This pt was in the hospital because she had accidentally overdosed on Mestinon. I know we are all human but thank God she callled and I held the 12PM dose or the consequences could have been disasterous.

[askater11]

Yeah at my job I don't remember the last time I've eaten...a bagel or dinner!!!!!!! But I tell you when I come home I clean out the cupboard.....though God Bless our PCT....he had 6 bags of popcorn.....microwaved them.....and that was the R.N.'s dinner. (we have a great PCT)

[JAYNE DANCE]

We have a nurse at the LTC where I work and she works 3p-11p and she never gets out of the building until 3am now those 4 hrs are off the clock and this is a everyday thing...............and she still leaves stuff behind....now I do a 12 hour shift, and I have no trouble getting all my work done, so............that really did not answer your ? huh...sorry, tired, just did a 12 hour shift 3rd nite of my 5 so sorry if I am rambling.............................................

[adrienurse, LPN]

I believe that the oness in on each of us to complete as much of the work as reasonably possible before we go home. I have a lot of disrespect for nurses and other healthcare staff who do not work by this principle. One should never forget that this is teamwork and that for this reason we are expected to continue the work of those on the shifts before us, as well as feel okay about passing unfinished business along with the next shift. I don't feel bad about staying a little later to finish work that must be completed by me only eg. charting and following up with family on sensitive matters, but this is where I draw the line. I also expect to be paid overtime for this -- and believe that it is reasonable to ask for this. This is a question of professionalism, when you think of it.

There are a few that will abuse this principle out of lazyness, but hopefully they are a minority.

[shay]

Nursing is NOT a 24 hour job.

Do what you can do and leave it at that.

[Lacey]

I see some nurses run around like nuts all shift and then AFTER report they sit down and do charting for the whole 12 hrs on the clock. These people are not organized! It's easy to get behind sometimes and then it's ok to stay late and put your I&Os, VS and meds if necessary but don't make it a habit. I also agree with empty IV Bags and bad IV' sites and don't even get me started about dried on-hours old poop! Depending on the hospital, report is either recorded, verbal or walking. I like walking rounds, that way if there is a problem, you can fix it together, instead of leaving a mess for someone else. And one other thing! When you hang a new IV bag, let's say 1000 ml, program the pump volume for 900 or 950 so it beeps before the tubing goes dry. You won't believe how many nurses program in 1000 ml! OK - I'll shut up now!

[askater11]

We have one nurse that I used to IDOLIZE. She was always finished with stuff on time. Actually come to think of it...there's a few that are like that. OMG they are horrible to follow!!! I see why they're done on time.

[deespoohbear]

If someone ever drags my butt out of bed at 4 am for a bath when I am 95 years old, there will be MAJOR problems!! About the only reason I feel that would be justified is if the patient had a bad diarrhea that the only way to get them cleaned properly is to put them in the shower or tub. I agree with the poster that said something about 4 am showers and baths being on the verge of pt abuse. I can't believe that the state board of health tolerates that kind of stuff. They are so much into patient's rights and such. All it would take is one family member to complain about 4am baths and that nonsense would come to a grinding halt. Someone needs to contact the state ombudsmen (sp).

Another poster stated that a former employer never paid for OT, no matter what. Wouldn't take me long to find another job. Our employer was griping for awhile about all the OT (especially during the time of high census) but we still got paid for it. Sometimes, OT just can't be avoided. There is always that end of shift admission , death, code blue, upset family. Or it just has been the shift from hell and you couldn't get everything done. It happens. I expect to be paid for any time I work, regardless if it is for 1 minute of regular time, or 2 hours overtime. Just my .02.

[amylynn]

despoohbear-I am so with you on the bath thing!! I work in Peds ICU where about 50% of our patients are open heart patients. Well, for as long as I can remember, we have to have our am labs done at 3am and our baths, dressing changes and weights done by 6am. And let me tell you, if your I&O for your shift, which doesn't end until 7am, isn't done by 5am, first you get crap from the med students followed by the residents and the head mds. I am thinking of switching to adult cardiac icu in hopes that I have them all for patients one day and can wake them at 3am and continue keeping them awake until 7am. So much for ICU pyschosis. And these are little kids! I love my job, I love my job, I love my job...(I am clicking my heels as I say this.)