Admissions at end of shift

[DeLynn, RN]

Last night I worked the 3-11 shift. I received an ED admission on the floor at about 5 minutes to 11. I had only found out about the admission about 1/2 hour before, so before he came I got the room ready and all the paper work was in the room. So when I received the pt I took his V.S. oriented him to the room and go to give report.

The next nurse coming on asks me if I'm going to do the admission paper work, I tell her I wasn't planning on it and she gives me a look and says well I have 8 patients tonight and I don't know if i'll have time. So I say I'll see what I can do. I get done with report around 11:20 go back to pt's room and finish the 1st page. We all walk together to our cars so I stop at 11:30 and tell the nurse and she gives me another look. Was it o.k. that I left without finishing the addmission?

[TazziRN, RN]

As long as you told someone, yes. She may have had 8 pts but you didn't exactly have a party on your shift, right? If you had stayed to do it you would have ended up on overtime, which I'm sure your facility would like to avoid.

[mtngrl, ASN, RN]

Usually if an admission comes that late the oncoming shift should do it. I would have done what you did. You shouldn't have to stay an hour late or so....whoever gets that assignment(for next shift) should do the admission.

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

Usually if an admission comes that late the oncoming shift should do it. I would have done what you did. You shouldn't have to stay an hour late or so....whoever gets that assignment(for next shift) should do the admission.

Exactly.

I don't consider it dumping on the next shift (whole 'nother thing if he'd arrived at 10pm.) Do your best and remember (as she forgot) that it's a 24 hour facility and new work will always arrive at the most inconvenient times. You've no doubt gotten your share of admits on your doorstep when you've stepped out of report at 3:20. Don't worry about it :).

[ONSnrs]

delynn

you did the right thing, there is only so much that you can accomplish w/ an admission that arrives so late. some nurses who relieve you oncoming shift are never happy no matter how much you do. stand your ground and tell them you have done as much as you can on your shift, nsg is a 24 hour job and they have to pick up where you left off, that is their job!

oncnrs

[MQ Edna]

Where I work if the admission comes within 1 hour of the shift ending all you are responsible for is VS, orienting to unit, etc....NOT admission history and assessment!

[ONSnrs]

Where I work if the admission comes within 1 hour of the shift ending all you are responsible for is VS, orienting to unit, etc....NOT admission history and assessment!

This is an awesome protocal! All facilities should initiate it.

[ANnot4me]

It is really helpful in these cases if the unit has a policy about this. Many have policies that an admission in the last 30-60 minutes gets v/s and settled and the next shift does the paperwork. Perhaps you could discuss it with your manager.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I try to do what I can but I am not staying an hour late to do the entire admission. I will either do the h+p OR I will note the orders, start the IV/O2 and do VS. I give any stat meds of course. I think its easier to let the oncoming nurse do the h+p, since then she knows first hand what is going on, not just getting the report from me. I dont mind staying a bit to help out by doing half of the paperwork, but I am not doing it all. No one stays to help me if their shift is over and an admit shows up at 2255. (I worked 11-7)

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

When i get a admission that close to the end of the shift. I will usually do everything you did and maybe some of the admission but i usually will let the oncoming shift do the physical assessment. They have to do one anyway and it serves the purpose better to let them do that and make their own decisions about patient care. They can print out the admission when they finish the physical assessment portion.