Down time while working

[moonshadeau, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, APN, NP, CNS]

When you get down time at work...how rare, but it does occasionally happen, what do you do to keep yourself occupied? Especially on night shift, when there is less people around and less procedures (I AM NOT SAYING THAT NIGHT SHIFT ISN'T BUSY). So nix that flamer right now...

This is the time that all the charting is done, patient care is done, and everything is done, what do you do?

Do you sit on the computer?

Do you gossip with others?

Do you do schoolwork?

Do you fall asleep?

Do you walk around?

Do you clean up around the station?

Do you read a magazine or a book that is non-nursing related?

Just curious what others do, most of the these things on the list (with the exception of cleaning) is a no-no in unit. So what do you all do in those precious few moments?

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

I work in NICU on nights, and once in a very long while I get a few minutes with nothing clinical to do. I usually clean isolettes, or stock/organize my babies' storage areas. I also sometimes get into a cleaning frenzy and start decluttering and wiping down every surface I see. JCAHO is still coming any day now.....or so they keep telling us! I also work on job related inservices, tests, or just read my neonatal textbook to stay on top of the game.....that's about all I have time for!

SteveRN21

[allele, LPN]

When I worked nights, if I had a night where I was actually organized enough to have some down time I'd just use the time to research my patients' charts. Sometimes you can find something interesting and new to you so you learn something, sometimes you find something wrong that should be fixed or something that was missed, etc. We always just kind of chatted right through work...it kind of keeps you going and awake. I work days now and if I actually get down time I end up asking other nurses what they'd like me to do to help them....I've found that if other nurses are really behind they just get cranky and I can't stand working around cranky people! LOL I just help 'em out...keeps me busy. I try not to do anything that's not work related....too many "tattlers" where I work, I don't want to be caught with a personal phone call or on ebay at work...not worth it. :)

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i work in icu, and i'll admit there have been nights (and a few days, too) where all i do is sit at the bedside and watch the little wheels turn on the dialysis machine. officially, i read nursing literature, work on writing/editing/updating policies and procedures i've written for dialysis, ventricular assist devices, etc, work on the paperwork for my nursing students and orientees or update my patients' kardexes.

unofficially, i've been known to read a novel or three, scan the trashy magazines that seem to collect at the nurse's station, surf the internet, catch up on email and write letters.

you were looking for honest answers, weren't you?

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

If and when there are a few lag times i usually am still busy with checking MARs, checking on patients. IF i actually get a couple minutes that there isnt anyone on a light etc. I go heat my munchies or whatever i brought to eat and sit for a few minutes and maybe read or scan a magazine laying around. But believe me, looking at pics and reading captions is about all there is time for. We have cont education modules we can do. Videos with post tests to do. They keep us plenty busy. Sleep?,, you can get canned for that.

[TazziRN, RN]

We do have times when there are no pts. We clean and restock, but it's a small ER so that doesn't take very long. We read, talk with each other, go on line. We can go on line as long as it's not interfering with pt care and we stay off of no-no sites (duh!).

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Clean up around the unit, chit chat with co-workers (not gossip), log on to Allnurses.com (:)), never slept on the job (don't believe in that option), flip through a non-nursing magazine that was lying around. I've seen coworkers do their homework, I rarely do that, but have been known to log onto the course website to check out emails and posts.

[nialloh, RN]

I research my Pt's. I look up the latest labs and test results. I also look up H&P's to get a more complete history. It makes for a much better report (although if I float to a less critical floor, they really don't want to know). All the night nurses on my tele unit do this.

As charge, I fill the IV trays and help anyone falling behind.