I'm a Home Health Nurse. I just got an email from the office saying I often come in too early (10 minutes) and leave too late (10 minutes). They cited an instance when I left 20 minutes late.
Is the following response to their email too snarky?
"I will make more of an effort to not arrive early to my shift and to not stay late. I will also call the office the next time me leaving at the scheduled time results in the vent-dependent, pediatric patient being left alone."
Too passive-aggressive?
I swear this company I work for is a joke. I don't think anyone in the office knows how anything works in the home.
how is signing in and out done in homecare, these days? how do they know you are early? why claim those 3 minutes on a written time slip? the late out is a whole 'nother issue.
Some agencies have us call in to "Telephony", which we are required to do as soon as we arrive. We have to give our password (4 numbers), the client's password (4 numbers) press 2 for start of shift, or press 3 for end of shift. The computer on the phone tells us the exact time, and that exact time is what has to go on our flow sheet.
We are also supposed to clock in at the exact time that the shift is scheduled to start. Since I might have to drive 50 miles in the snow to get there, I think it is unworkable unless I sit in the car until the last minute. Or unless I choose instead to arrive, get report, and then call in. The problem with that is that it's hard to watch the clock while getting report so I can clock in at the scheduled start of shift. It is also very easy to then forget to clock in.
I was taught - and I still believe - that a nurse should be ready to pick up the baby, or at least to take report, when she starts the shift. Coat & boots should already be removed. shoes put on, hands washed, report received, etc.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Wow. Exact minute seems way too nitpicky. I'm not home health, but we have a 5 minute before grace period (for both clocking in and clocking out) and a 5 minute after grace period (only for clocking out). So, if my shift starts at 7am, I am allowed to clock in between 0655 and 0700. If my shift ends at 1500, I can clock out between 1455 and 1505. Generally, they only start having discussions with those who are consistently clocking in precisely at 0655 and clocking out at precisely 1505. The occasional few minutes of OT slides.
I am curious what your "average" is. I time my work drive so I arrive between 6:50 and 7 (or 7:05). It varies according to traffic and the line for coffee. But I also get out early more often than not. It balances out so that the occasional swipe out a 7:45 means that I had a busy day. I guess if I was consistently coming early and staying late I would get talked to, but I think our policy is a 15 minute guideline. We have overtime ALL the time anyways so I don't think anyone really cares. But when it is a patient safety/staffing issue they need to either fix it or leave you alone.
djh123
1,101 Posts
I like your response. Here's one I gave my DON one time when talking about OT. I said 'Do you ever see me doing nothing?'. No.