What are the little things you do to help the next shift?

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Specializes in Psych.

Think of it this way, for the next few weeks, every time you go to work and start your shift take a mental note of things that you like and things you don't like when you come on shift. Before you leave, make sure things are the way you like them to be when you came on.

That is what I do. However, I am getting increasingly perturbed that I am the only one doing it. Yes, Im working night shift and yes I have a bit more time to do the general restocking, but it would be nice if the person who uses the last Flush or syringe would at least stock those items.

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
I always give pain medicine to my patients 1-2 hours before my shift end. Even if they don't ask for it I bring it anyway and make sure they take it. There is nothing worst then a patient being in pain and asking for medication at shift change. I wish my night shift nurses would do the same.[/quote']

But if they don't need it you are giving additional doses of pain meds. Doesn't sound like a smart idea to me

canigraduate

2,107 Posts

I hate it when I follow someone who is inconsiderate. I find myself taking out over an hour of my day doing extra catch-up work, including cleaning, organizing, and restocking more often than I would like. I try to keep things ready as though someone were going to take over at any time. You never know when someone's going to crump!

I have a system so that I don't leave as much for the next nurse to do. First, as I go throughout the day, anytime I have to go to the supply room for a patient, I will grab everything I think they will need for the next 24 hours. Second, I change everything that is due to expire that day and, if I have time, the next day. On each round, I clean up one particular surface in the room. Ex: first rounds=bedside table, noon rounds = counters, 1600 rounds = bathroom/commode area. Then, on the last couple of rounds, I make sure all the patients are absolutely sparkling, 1900 meds are all given and reassessed as early as possible, all maintenance fluids have an extra bag and at least one to two hours of runtime left after shift change, and all PRNs are caught up with the noc nurse not needing to give any for a couple of hours.

The biggest thing I try to do, though, is get all patient and pharmacy issues addressed before the docs and support personnel go home. When I worked nights, it absolutely disgusted me when a patient had needed something all day and I had to call the on-call to get it addressed. On-calls do not like being used as clean-up! The angriest I ever got at a previous shift nurse was for patient deterioration that didn't get resolved, even though they had been slowly tanking since 10 AM. I ended up having to do an 8 PM rapid response. I'm still mad about it, even though it was over a year ago!

Sometimes, of course, depending on how the day goes, not all of this is possible. But this is the standard I reach for. Hope this helps!

Altra, BSN, RN

6,255 Posts

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
I always give pain medicine to my patients 1-2 hours before my shift end. Even if they don't ask for it, I bring it anyway and make sure they take it. There is nothing worst then a patient being in pain and asking for medication at shift change. I wish my night shift nurses would do the same.

But if they don't need it you are giving additional doses of pain meds. Doesn't sound like a smart idea to me

Agree ChristineN -- Assessing for pain before the end of the shift is helpful, but to make a blanket statement that you medicate everyone ...

I have the same type of concern with restarting IVs so that the next shift doesn't have to: if you "jump ahead" 4-5 hours a few times on what is designed to be a q72 or q96 hour change ... over the course of an admission this could add up to an extra IV site/stick for the patient. Unnecessary, IMO.

Specializes in Critical Care, Public Health, Addiction.

I work 7p-7a, ICU..

- if patient has peripheral IVs that expire, I try to replace at least one site if not both

- order new bags of drips that the patient is on

- hang new bag of fluids (or just keep extra on pole)

- throw out and replace things that are used just for a day (like suction catheter, graduated cylinder)

- Make sure the supply cart/COWs are refilled (especially with syringes, flushes, etc)

- Make sure diapers are dry and patients look presentable (usually make sure they are bathed on night shift)

- Do labs early to ensure e-lyte replacements can be started before next shift

- Make sure the orders are all acknowledged and legal (i.e. make sure there is an order for that fentanyl that has been hanging all night, or make sure restraints are ordered)

- Make sure IV tubing/bags are up to date and change tubing if they expire in the next 12 hours (also applies for tube feeding)

- Show up on time for change of shift report when coming back in at night

moonwolf

7 Posts

Specializes in mental health.

At end of shift I make sure all orders are up to date, check in with my patients to make sure they have needs fulfilled and tell them which RN is coming on next shift, tidy up the station, check all doors are locked, make sure pain prn reassessments are documented and thank each co-worker for a job well done.

FineAgain

372 Posts

Specializes in ED; Med Surg.

If I have a patient that is going to the OR that day, I try to fill out the OR pre-op sheet so the day RN doesn't have to. It always seems to be appreciated...

eeffoc_emmig

305 Posts

Back when I worked in a facility, what I did for the oncoming shift depended on who was working. You help me out, I help you. You come in and give me grief and trash talk me, I do nothing extra for you.

GundeRN

99 Posts

I make sure my patients are pottied, positioned, and pain controlled, if lines are due to be changed I change them, if their bag of fliud will run out in the next hour I scan and hang a new one so it's ready to spike.. of course this is all if I have time.

Billy_Ruben

32 Posts

I try to have my peeps ties up with a nice bow. That doesn't always get to happen. I've considered pulling the first set of meds for them but I figure some may not like it as I prefer to pull my own. This is a great thread. I'm always looking for ways to help out with my own shift and for the oncoming shift. I always ask before I leave if they see anything they need right away. I think the next thing I'm going to focus on trying to do is start electrolyte replacements if the labs are up in time.

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