New Rehab Nurse

1. Hi,
   I'm a new grad and I just got my first job as a Rehab nurse dealing with stroke, ortho, spinal, and head trauma patients. I requested the night shift position 11p-7a and was wondering if anyone works nights in Rehab and knows what I should expect and/or the usual routine?? Thanks for any tips

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2. 3 Comments

   Comment
3. 
   Apr 11, '11

   I'm a new grad in a related field, subacute rehabilitation and have 12 patients. One thing I did, not sure if it will be helpful to you is to make your own flowsheet or "brain" or to look under some of the categories here on the board for ideas for a brain sheet. This will help you to become more organized. My sheet consists of spaces to write the names of the patient (because we have pretty high turn over), VS, Accu checks, IV meds, Treatments, etc. so I can organize my day. Then I have another sheet that I use as my report sheet and also a checklist of all the things I need to chart for the day: weeklys or dailys, skin audits, new admits, 24 hr report, taking off orders, calling pharmacy, etc. Of course this may be different where you work so find what is helpful for you. I feel like if I don't have my lists that I might forget something and be considered as one of those dreaded "new nurses who doesn't know what she's doing".
   
   Best wishes!!!!!
4. 
   Apr 11, '11

   Thanks for the advice! The brain sheet sounds like an awesome way of organizing...I'm sure I'll need a lot of that and I'll figure out what works best for me. Best wishes to you as well
5. 
   Apr 20, '11

   days are busier because u have to prepare them on their PT OT ST. u do dressing changes. at nights most of them are asleep, some will RTC ask for their pain meds, do some ADLs.

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