"Down time" on your shift?

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Dec 11, 2013

We aren't allowed to have any of those things either, but you do Have to think about what a parent would think if they walk in and see a bunch of magazines etc laying around.

There is always something to do in our unit, stocking bedsides, stocking the room carts, putting stock away ( our aide is on leave so we do it now). We do have access to the internet in the rooms so we will go on there if everything is done and no parents are around.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Dec 13, 2013

It annoys me that parents complain about nurses doing the same damn things the parents would be doing if they were there for 12 hours with their baby. Most of them spend 55 minutes out of their 1 hour per day visit, playing Candy Crush on their phone.

milkglass · Dec 13, 2013

Thank you! This policy change has erk'd a lot of nurses of course. I guess you always get that when you take away a "freedom".

But I agree, the parents spend SO much time texting or surfing on their phone. Many of my coworkers have pointed that out, but I said if they would try to crack down on that who would be the enforcers? The bedside nurse would end up being the bad guy.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Dec 13, 2013

It is the perception of what they see...they are doing X and what if something's happens with my baby. My ex manager comes out on issues like this. You have to think about if you were in that spot... Mom is in ICU and the nurse is hanging out at the desk in her phone with magazines etc. Now, wouldn't you be like hmm, wonder if they caught that dip in her BP etc. The difference between you doing what they are doing and them doing it is that you are working. Our complaints centered around nurses on their phones or e-readers when babies were crying, alarms were going off , people not being acknowledged when they entered the room, and using the devices while holding babies and feeding them. So, as usual it only takes a few Bad apples. On the nursing end, bedsides not stocked, bedsides not cleaned, rooms not stocked. Gotta look at it from all sides kids.

milkglass · Dec 14, 2013

I completely agree that you shouldn't be on your phone or reading a book if parents are present. That isn't "down time" to me, because you should be there for their questions and needs.

But, I do disagree with taking it away when it's 3AM, you're sitting in a completely dark room except for a reading lamp, and no one is around. Actual down time. We have a closed unit where the parents have to be let in by a clerk who calls us for permission to come in, so there's no parents sneaking up on you. We have "nurse assistants" who restock our drawers/rooms all night. And most people clean/organize their bedspaces at the beginning of my shift so that can only go so far.

I guess I feel that if there are nurses doing things otherwise then THEY should be disciplined first. Never agreed with taking away everyone's rights for a few bad apples. I mean really, managment should try sitting in a dark room listening to the drone of oscillators for 12 hours, it get can get tough even when you've had 7-8hrs of sleep prior..

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Dec 14, 2013

I totally agree with the punish the offenders first, but unfortunately those are the people that don't care. We also are a closed unit but that didn't stop people from doing the above. There will always be those people who just don't care and do what they want. I was AUM on our unit and I really hate when people throw out we should try sitting there etc. Personally, I truly feel that co-workers should tell the offenders to behave. A little "peer" pressure goes a long way.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Dec 15, 2013

I've always hated (and have always had) managers that manage to the lowest common denominator.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Dec 15, 2013

Reason I gave up my manager spot...I wanted to hold people accountable and I told people to say something to their co-workers, but the punish the masses attitude prevailed. I personally don't have an issue with things to do with downtime but when people start making the room look their living room and parents complain then something needs done.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Dec 15, 2013

These things go in cycles. In a few months, it probably won't be as vigorously enforced . . . speaking from 20+ years experience in probably 7 or 8 different hospitals. Ask if you are allowed to read "educational" materials during your downtime (only when other tasks done and no visitors). Such things could be assigned mandatory training, review books for neonatal, neonatal journals.

I actually learned quite a lot during the "strict" times as we were allowed to read relevant educational materials. Ask with a good attitude and frame it as you trying to improve your practice by taking advantage of those downtimes when nothing else needs to be done and no visitors are around. I would be surprised if you are denied.

Then over time, maybe the "educational materials" get a little diverse; just saying, I don't know nearly enough about what kind of boots would look best with skinny jeans and I might need to research that answer :)

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Dec 16, 2013

Ha! Tell them you have downtime, and they'll take it to mean you don't have anything to do, are overstaffed, and cut your staffing tomorrow.

ilovenicu16 · Jan 29, 2014

On the rare occasions I have downtime, what I do depends on the assignment, whether parents are in the room, etc. Of course, if parents are there, I wouldn't be on my phone or reading something. We have separate bedside tables/computers for each kid, so sometimes you can get away with turning the computer/cart the other way so if you wanted to get online without others seeing, then it is ok. I sometimes get one of our NICU nursing textbooks and read things from there. Of course I will ALWAYS check with my neighbors to make sure they don't need help with anything. If the parents are there, we usually strike up conversations and get to know each other well, so that helps too.