Extra Nurse Duties

[ctm985]

I would like some advice on how to utilize an "extra" nurse on night shift. Our facility has 12 hour shifts and I work 7p-7a. We have 3 nurses occasionally, with 2 med carts. As of now, the 3rd nurse is a float, helping with finger sticks and the minimal dressing changes assigned to our shift. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. :bowingpur

[Vito Andolini]

You could always share a med cart and give her some patients on each cart.

Or, she could help with the phones, orders, visitors (if any of these at night), help make rounds with the aides for turn/clean patients, etc. she can paper the charts if you guys do that, she can deal with restocking things, help with admits and emergencies. There is so very much, depending on where you work, of course. don't let your boss know you think of her as extra.

[Faby]

You could always share a med cart and give her some patients on each cart.

Or, she could help with the phones, orders, visitors (if any of these at night), help make rounds with the aides for turn/clean patients, etc. she can paper the charts if you guys do that, she can deal with restocking things, help with admits and emergencies. There is so very much, depending on where you work, of course. don't let your boss know you think of her as extra.

This is a very good answer! Why is it that Nurses almost always get used to work understaffed?

When I was a new grad I was told once "ther's always something to do in nursing", I didn't agree at the time, but I do agree now. that's the way it is

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

What the third nurse does probably depends on how many residents you have and how sick they are. As a DNS I wouldn't be too happy to be paying a nurse's salary for someone doing CNA work or secretarial work. If,on the other hand, you have many admits and discharges every day, then a 3rd licensed person would be invaluable.

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

Well at least the other two nurses will be able to get a real lunch as the extra nurse can cover their patients.

[BEDPAN76]

Care Plans!

[Donnagg123]

You are very lucky! I work 3rd and we get 2 nurses for 3 carts, and also have to do census, sending meds back to pharmacy, processing orders, ALL the cleaning, not including a laundy list of meds and treatments and more.

I would have the nurse do like you are and maybe get the extra charting done (VS/medicare, ATB charting etc.).

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

I would have her reviewing orders written in the past 24 hours to ensure everything got followed thru w/.. ie: meds/tx to MAR & TARS, labs really got ordered, updating careplans with those interim problems, etc. Things fall thru the cracks so easily and once something is missed it just snowballs into bigger problems.

[achot chavi]

All of these are good replies, I am unsure of how many residents you have, how many per nurse etc. I would give her QA responsibilities, Body checks for new breakdown, Organization duties etc. Make a weekly checklist for her. Maybe MDS charting, ...

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Yep...all of the above are great things to get done. What is the staffing/ residdent ratio? How many CNAs? I can see a lot of work from the 7p-11p or so and then again for the morning med pass. Just wondering..

Still, there are could be tons of stuff for an extra nurse to do on nights that would keep them busy, not sure if every night, but for a good bit.

[ctm985]

1 nurse : 20 residents!!! Usually between 3-4 CNA's.

[achot chavi]

1 nurse : 20 residents!!! Usually between 3-4 CNA's.

So I understand 60 pts in all- not a bad ratio- depending on pts care needs. Try closing your eyes and make a wish list of how you'd ideally like to see things done, make a list and then divide the responsibilities. Maybe have a meeting to explain your vision and goals so that everyones on board. I've seen facilities ask the night CNA to organize closets, fold laundry, prepare paperwork for the next month etc.