Loose ends...or how to get everything done by the end of the shift...

Hi. I have been a nurse for 25 yrs. but have just gone to medsurg after being at a desk job for 12+ yrs. so I don't really have any advice cuz I'm in the same boat. I'm in my 5th week of orientation. I last worked in a hospital in '96. BUT, I will say, that's why nurses work 24 hrs.....so the next shift can take over where the last shift left off. There will always be SOME things that have to be passed on to the oncoming shift. Don't feel bad about it. I'm not saying we should "dump" on the next shift. LOL. But, it's inevitable (in my opinion) that there will be things that didn't get done and have to be passed on. Nobody's perfect.

I make a check list out of the main things that I have to get done by the end of the shift. This is a copied list that I have for each patient, anything other than the main things I add to the list as I go. I just make sure at the end of the day I have checked everything off or at least told the next shift about to have them finish up.

I am a fairly new nurse working in a rehab unit for 1 and a 1/2 years. I want to move to med surg but what you are talking about is one of my many concerns. I know I will be over whelmed because there is so much to do and i know by the end of the day I will have a lot I have not finished and the next shift will be ****** at me almost all the time...

webmansx, why are you switching if you know it will be harder???

I need more of a "brain challenge". Rehab is pretty routeen, its more physically involving ( a lot of lifting and pulling) and its hard on the body, but most of the patients are stable. Rarely do we have an emergency, we don't focus on labs, and complex IV's, test, and stuff. If you work Rehab for a long time,you loose a lot of your critical thinking and nursing skills (NG tube insertion, iv starts, JP drains and such). Thses are all found in Med surg. But the trade of is I have to learn to adjust to that chaotic fast pace again....I want to but not sure I can. I need someone to convince me its not that bad

I have worked med surge/tele and now ICu. I have a report list, made for each patient that ranges everything from assessments-new orders. It's basically also a check off list and it will make giving report easier, protects you from forgetting the little stuff and really prioritizes your time. For me if it isn't written down I will forget it.
Little things always comes up but while the nurse is in report listening to your taped report you can get things finished up.