Down time

I challenge the very concept of "downtime." There is no such thing. There are *always* tasks that can be done... when the sniping begins, find one of them.

I work nocs and have a lot of down time, I always bring my Kindle to work and read when I'm not busy. It keeps me out of the circle of gossipers yet keeps me entertained at the same time!

"If there is time to lean, there is time to clean". I try to find a project or something to clean and organize.

I usually end up reading random medical or nursing books that happen to be around, just kick it with a patient, and always ask if anyone needs help.

When I have the rare down time my med cart gets organized and when that is done I zero in on the med room.

When there I down time and the only activity is gossip, what do you do?

I keep a mental (and written) note in my mind about which tasks are required daily and which tasks should be completed during "down time" I actually feel that the list of things that should be done, but aren't done is extensive enough that there's no reason for any nurse (at my facility anyways) to say, they're bored. Yes, we all deserve a break during "down time" but I know there's always something that I could be doing.

Examples include: updating care plans, cleaning the med cart, auditing charts, cleaning up loose pills, ordering OTC or prescription meds, talking to Pts about their care plan progress/doing pt teaching, tidying up or sanitizing the med room, asking other nurses if they need some help, etc,