Every morning, it never fails. Day shift comes in late, they sit around talking about their parties, weddings, People magazine, ANYTHING but work. We night shifters are totally prepared for report and because we have to give report on all of our patients its takes a LONG time. We usually have to drag them out tooth & nail. Today I finally walked up to a nurse and said "I have 2 of your patients" She replied "I haven't even read the report sheet, I'll come find you" And it was 7:25!! At 730 I finally had to go up to her and she said "Well I haven't read it yet, but go ahead."
Whatever! Nightshift is always there at 18:45, have our patients and get report by 19:15-because we are there for a job, not to talk about who got so drunk at the last party!
I don't think we can blast all "day shifters" or "night shifters" . . . .it unfortunately happens with all shifts.
Our night shift is the one who are late to report a lot. If it has to do with patient care - absolutely understandable. But if it has to do with gossip - that does drive me crazy.
I don't think we can blast all "day shifters" or "night shifters" . . . .it unfortunately happens with all shifts.
Our night shift is the one who are late to report a lot. If it has to do with patient care - absolutely understandable. But if it has to do with gossip - that does drive me crazy.
steph
Agreed. This problem is not shift related. In some places it may be a particular shift where this is a problem. The fact that it is allowed to continue to be a problem is an indication of management not doing their job.
I do day shift and night shift and I see the problem with both shifts.
After 12 hours of working with too little staff and too high of acuity, I want to be standing in front of the time clock at 6:29:59 (I can leave at 630). Unfortunately, it never works out that way.
There have been times that someone has come in on time but wasn't ready to work until they've been there for 30 mins. Happened to me Thanksgiving actually. She didn't take off her winter coat and hat until 1900. I eventually told the person that I was leaving. When she said "what about report", I reminded her she had 30 mins and a dozen opportunites for that. You'll have to get it off the computer now.
If it's a constant problem, I would bring it up to the NM. There's a time and place for socializing. I don't have a problem with talking about home life when your not super busy, but talking about getting drunk and your sex life is inappropriate and unprofessional (my opinion anyway).
This was a MAJOR problem with day shift at my old hospital. The NM did nothing, even though hospital policy stated 3 tardies = 1 occurrence (absence) and once you hit a certain number of occurrences, you were terminated. I understand everyone runs late sometimes. I'm not talking about that; these people were at least 15 minutes late every single day--- some up to 30 minutes, the time I was supposed to be going home. Then they would stand around and chat, like described in the OP. What made it worse is I not only had to report on my own patients, but give charge report on the entire floor.
We tried everything from nicely requesting they show up and be ready for report, to shaming them, to demanding they be on time, to writing them up. Nothing worked.
There was one nurse who would call in every day she worked and tell me she was running late. Her litany of excuses for being late was quite impressive, if not irritating as hell. She was one of our 30-minute-ers. One morning, I asked why didn't she just call in if she was going to be on time, at least that would be out of the ordinary.
One day I'd had it. She was scheduled to be in charge, and of course called to say she was running late. I'd had a terrible night, and all I wanted was to go home. So I took our charge report and went into the lounge. I sat down and started talking--- to myself. She walked in as I was reporting on the last patient. She smiled and said, "I'm ready for report now!"
I just handed her the sheet and said, "I gave report. Too bad you weren't around to hear it."
Another nurse showed up late, as usual. I didn't say a word, but before I drove in to work that evening, I called and asked her whose patients I was getting. She told me I was getting her group.
"Ok, just wanted you to know I'm going to be 20 minutes late."
I always make a point to get there a bit early, so she was concerned and asked what was wrong.
"Nothing."
I got to work at my usual time. Sat outside until I was 20 minutes late, then sauntered up to the floor. She was practically dancing all over, talking about how she needed to get home and how late it was going to be before she could leave. I looked her right in the eye and said, "Now you know how WE feel."
I think it is a matter of respect and it goes both ways.
I am a night nurse. We have good and bad on both shifts. I do wish that the day shift offenders would consider that they are cutting into our sleep time. I also hate it when they call me at home in the day (when we are sleeping) and say....I know your are sleeping but......then talk about a meeting or a party they want to plan. They might be mad if I called at 3AM to discuss the same thing.
Occasional slips don't bother me....it is the repeat offenders.
i just think it is so sad how inconsiderate people can be toward one another. we all know that when its time to go home, we want to go on time. no one should have to tell another nurse "hey, i have been here 12 hours, can you take report please?". i am very aggressive. i have no problem going to another nurse and saying"ok, i am going to give you report on rooms 6,7,8" fortunately i work with nurses that are very considerate for the most part.
The best thing our system ever did was , each nursing unit has its own time clock. The choice we have is use the time clock on your unit or punch in using the computer on your unit. That immensely has cut down on people showing up late for report.
No more clocking in at the first door into the hospital then running around for food, then finally to your unit.. Now people come earlier, pick up what they need before they get to the unit and punch in.
Certainly makes me appreciate my facility's reporting system. We get and give report via the telephones, using a system that records and plays back report. At times it can be a pain, but it cuts down on a lot of frustration and resentment between the shifts. And to echo what many others have said, overall it's not a problem with only one shift. At the hospital where I work, the day shift nurses are there at 6:30 am working, and can't punch in until 7a. They're generally getting organized and they end up waiting on the night shift nurses for report so they can be out on the floor asap.
so the entire time you are at work you don't ever talk about anything personal?
Not when there is work to be done, and being prepared to take/give report on time takes precedence over visiting with co-workers about personal topics.
Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN
11,305 Posts
I don't think we can blast all "day shifters" or "night shifters" . . . .it unfortunately happens with all shifts.
Our night shift is the one who are late to report a lot. If it has to do with patient care - absolutely understandable. But if it has to do with gossip - that does drive me crazy.
steph