Typical Day for a Nurse

TazziRN, RN · Jul 1, 2007

There have been posts like this before, if you do a search you can find a whole lot of info.

bill4745, RN · Jul 1, 2007

Typical day? Ain't no such thing.

TrudyRN · Jul 1, 2007

3rd shift, long-term residents

-count

-get report, do walking rounds (verify census, see all pts breathing)

-do assignment for aides

-set up meds

-24 hour MAR reviews and 24 hour chart reviews

-count sharps and check emergency supplies

- review labs (24 hours)

-handle whatever problems arise, if any

-chart (nurses' notes and any special projects)

- pass meds, give any sliding scale needed, eval VS that aides do and chart them;

- draw morning labs;

-give report to and count with oncoming shift

I hope this helps.

pat8585 · Jul 1, 2007

thanks trudy!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2007

There is no "typical day" as the poster above states. LOL

Shift change report at the bedside, with eyeballing the patients quickly to see if there are any immediate needs

Patients are prioritized. Patients with trachs and patients reporting pain, or who are unstable in any way are prioritized first. If there are none of the above, I go systematically in order of room doing head to toe assessments, turning and repositioning. By the 3rd or 4th patient it's usually time to pass medications.

Depending on tech support, I'll also pass breakfast trays about this time.

By 10:00 meds and assessments should be done, and if all is well, and there are no new orders I will either chart, or do treatments, such as dressing changes, trach care, central line care, changing IVs, getting patients out of bed who don't have physical therapy, and bedbaths depending on the CNA situation, etc. etc. etc.

Between noon and 1pm I'll eat lunch myself. Never ever do I skip lunch, but timing is variable.

Twice a week there are interdisciplinary rounds with social work, pt, ot, dietary, etc. at which I'll report on my patients.

I might have a discharge or two, an admit or two, someone coming and going to surgery. Teaching is very important during this time.

Working trauma there is an endless amount of narcotic pain control issues, as well as just medicating them (some patients every hour).

I will try to have all of my bedside charting and computer charting done by 3pmish, but'ts that's only a goal, that is the least of my worries, although the sooner things get charted the better. I try to chart dressings, treatments, etc. as I do them.

On and on and on until 7pm.

This is a med-surg trauma nurse in a hospital. I'm sure I've lefts stuff out.

Sisukas · Jul 1, 2007

Take report from night shift RN, give report to CNA.

Check labs and page MDs for any labs that need reported right away.

Assess patients..order of assessments based on acuity of patient, pain, or if they're all stable, get any unpleasant patients over with so I don't put if off forever. Give AM meds during assessments. Usually done by 1030 or so.

Do graphic charting....morning is frequently interrupted so I do narrative charting at the end of the shift or when the patient is discharged/transferred out. I have a "brain" with times in a framework, so I note days events on it and use it to chart later.

Lunch when I can; I've gotten good at taking 5 minutes to snack on my cheese or whatever in the morning so lunchtime isn't a huge priority.

Downtime usually about 1630...do narrative charting.

Give PM meds.

6-7...medicate everyone for pain and hang full IV bags so nights has them handy.

This is my ideal day....I accomplish it about 75% of the time. The rest of the time I wing it and ride with it.

I work for float team in a Level 1 trauma unit.