OK Managment you win. Nurses are leaving on time now.

agldragonRN · Dec 21, 2012

Wow that's scary. What happens if you get investigated by the state and you have no charting to back you up?

I know it's hard to look for a job now but I would be looking for a new one if I were you. Your license is not safe.

Good luck.

LTCNS, LPN · Dec 21, 2012

I left a job in LTC because they wanted the nurses to clock out and finish charting. I politely told management I understood they had corporate bosses to answer to and have to play by the rules or be shown the door, but I was not willing to work off the clock. I expect to be paid for the work I do. Period.

Anne36, LPN · Dec 21, 2012

Clocking out on time is also an issue where I work. We are not supposed to have overtime, but we are not allowed to clock off the chart either. In my 8 hour shift I cant chart on everyone if something goes wrong. I had spent the majority of my shift in 1 room and ended up sending my resident back to hospital, that resident was the only one I charted on that night. I see lots of blanks where charting should have been done, but with the number of residents we have, unless everyone is well and the night goes very smoothly it is impossible to chart on everyone. About passing work on to the next shift - this mainly has to do with the treatment books. There is too much to do in any one shift to get it all done, this means always passing the buck, how do we ever catch up? It would help if the CNA had a TX book with the duties that they could carry out, such as checking alarms or putting a warm compress on someones arm, or recording in the Food Acceptance Record. It takes me as long to do these things myself as to find the CNA or get the supplies for them.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Dec 21, 2012

We put all the tx within the CNA scope of practice onto flow sheets that the aides initial every shift. Foley care, magic butt cream, elevating heels off bed, checking tab alarms.... all this stuff is within their scope. And there's absolutely no reason they can't sign off on it. None of this stuff has to be initialed by a licensed nurse.

AngelRN27 · Dec 24, 2012

At my facility no one leaves without completing their charting (at least not on purpose, or all the time) but they must clock out at the designated time unless there is a special circumstance. For example, during our recent state evaluation, plenty of nurses and CNA's were asked to stay late for several "projects" or to help out the next shift. In those cases, we did not clock out until we left, and were allowed to accrue this overtime. Otherwise, on a regular day, if any documentation isn't done, one is to clock out at the appropriate time and stick around 'till everything is complete...

cienurse · Dec 24, 2012

In most states, asking you to clock out on time and then stay to complete your work is illegal. Most state labor laws require you to be paid for all the time you are spent working-which is why it is frowned upon for you to take work home, unless you are a salaried employee. I would check in your state what the laws about that are-somebody might owe you quite a bit of money if you can prove you were asked to work off the clock.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2012

Clocking out but staying to finish work is bad...bad....bad, not to mention illegal! Once you clock out you're employer is no longer 'responsible' for you. If you get hurt during your time 'off the clock' guess what..you're on your own, even if the facility was at fault. Once you clock out, you are no longer an employee and are not covered by anything an on the clock employee is.

I would never clock out without doing my required charting...didn't chart it, didn't do it. Now something happens and they investigate something that occured on your shift. You may have done what was necessary (interventions, tx etc) but with no formal charting on it, you will be seen as not doing anything.

Do not ever not chart!