Falls at shift change...

[NurseQT]

At my facility our shift times are 6-2, 2-10, and 10-6. There is no overlap time between shifts. Last night I worked 10-6 and was the only nurse on for the entire shift. It gets unbelievably busy in the morning and this morning was no exception, I ran from 0400 until 0545 when I finally was able to sit down to fill out my report sheets and enter in my I&Os and such. At exactly 0600 I hear "we need a nurse down here! Someone's on the floor!" Neither of the day nurses had arrived yet, but the day shift aides were out on the floor already. I let out quite a few "colorful" words under my breath and since I was the only nurse on yet I went down to the room. A few minutes later the day nurse came in the room, asked the resident a couple questions and then left the room, no offers to help or anything. She than proceeded to go about her day without offering to assist in any way even though technically the fall happened on her shift. I did the entire fall report, investigation, updated the MD, as well as assisting with getting him up (only one aide came to help, the one who actually found him went about her day as well!), getting his vitals, and taking care of the skin tear on his hand. I punched out an hour after my shift ended. It irritates me that the oncoming nurse wouldn't lift a finger to help, especially since my shift was over, I had been the only nurse on all NOC, never got to take a lunch, and ran my butt off. I know I know, that's an everyday thing in LTC, but had the roles been reversed my first question would have been "what can I do to help?" Or offered to help by calling the doc and taking care of the skin tear. I would never dump the entire thing on the previous shift nurse and I'm appalled that this day nurse did just that!

What would you have done in this situation?

[RNBearColumbus, BSN]

I would have handled the investigation part, the documentation, etc, since I was the nurse that was actually in the building at the time of the fall. However, i would have asked the other nurse to handle the skin tear (Including writing / entering any associated orders) and make the phone calls. If He/She refused, I would have gone ahead and done it, but made darn sure I brought it up to management later.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Isn't that always the way---things are peaceful all night, but as soon as 0500 rolls around, everybody starts getting up and falling. Unfortunately, LTC is one of those situations in which it's "If you find it, you own it". Yes, I think the day shift nurse should've helped, but I also know what day shift is like---if you don't start running the instant report is over, you're already behind and you'll never get caught up.

Sorry this happened to you. It's too bad there's no overlap time when there are two nurses---I've never heard of a place where nurses' shifts don't overlap. CNAs, yes, but nurses? How safe is that?? I would definitely bring this up to management and see if this could be changed. Get other nurses on board with it, too.

[Lioness333]

Here lies the beauty of nursing: Are you in a hurry to get home, or will an extra hours' pay come in handy? Is this a resident you are fond of, or one who is mean and you only do necessary care on? Is the oncoming nurse a person you admire, value, appreciate, who has helped you out, or is the nurse a self-serving bully who gets off on seeing his/her coworkers drown? Are you still on the clock? I take all of those factors into consideration. There are certain nurses I want to be helpful to, and there are some who are not deserving of a shred of my time. There are also patients who are combative and I wouldn't go in the room alone if I could help it.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Here lies the beauty of nursing? Surely you can't be serious. You only help the nurses you want and the residents you like? Don't ever come apply to work for me....you're a bully pure and simple. I find it hard to believe you have 21 years of experience, too. Wow...we're all there for the residents....except you're there for you.

[caliotter3]

No matter what the situation in this scenario, I always found myself on the short end of the stick. That is one of the reasons why I found working in these facilities less than pleasant. The nurse who won't lift a finger to help you will be the one clamoring for you to do the work when she gets in that position. And guess who management likes? It always seems to be that way.

[LTCNS, LPN]

When I worked nights and a fall happened right at shift change, I completed the entire process from checking for injuries, treating any injuries, filling out the incident report, calling the MD and completing a nurses' note. I was still on the clock and the fall "technically" happened on my watch so I felt like it was my responsibility. All shifts are slammed with meds, orders, labs, falls, assisting with feeding, putting out fires, documentation, dealing with MDs and family members, etc...Teamwork is important

[Lioness333]

Typical...reading and misconstruing, assuming, checking a profile, then commenting. Typical management, you want people to go above and beyond to the detriment of themselves/their health and family for the betterment of how YOU look as a manager...or bully? I'm sure you're just there for the residents and staff, and not for your check. It's bullies that cause nurses like me to say "I can't stay and help you...I have another commitment." Believe me, if I was only there for myself, I wouldn't be there...and don't worry about me applying to work for you, because I am not interested in continuing in a career where managers are self-serving blindfold-wearers. Don't pretend you care about your staff or residents when you don't. I know who's a bully - you are. The tone is set at the top.

[Lioness333]

I have actually been LEAVING EXHAUSTED, WALKING OUT, witnessed a fall, and ran to a time clock to punch back in and help and do the reports. You know NOTHING about how I am...I am VALUED by employers...you should NEVER assume how I think, feel and act.

[NurseQT]

No matter what the situation in this scenario, I always found myself on the short end of the stick. That is one of the reasons why I found working in these facilities less than pleasant. The nurse who won't lift a finger to help you will be the one clamoring for you to do the work when she gets in that position. And guess who management likes? It always seems to be that way.

You pretty much nailed it on the head, this nurse is a huge bully and less than pleasurable to work with.. And yet management thinks she is God's gift to nursing. The aides told me that she sat in the nurses station texting on her phone while I was down in the resident's room...

[spiderslap]

Here lies the beauty of nursing? Surely you can't be serious. You only help the nurses you want and the residents you like? Don't ever come apply to work for me....you're a bully pure and simple. I find it hard to believe you have 21 years of experience, too. Wow...we're all there for the residents....except you're there for you.

It is important to be realistic and understand that nurses should not be forced martyrs and not constantly be guilted into accepting overwhelming amounts of work or responsibilities. It is easy to throw around the altruistic script on the web, however in real life, nurses are humans not angels. If you dont look out for yourself in health care, you are setting yourself up to be exploited.

[Lioness333]

Well some managers don't care about the health, well-being, or familial personal needs of their staff, they only care that they are sheeple who make them look good to Admin. Don't act shocked that I opted out.

It is important to be realistic and understand that nurses should not be forced martyrs and not constantly be guilted into accepting overwhelming amounts of work or responsibilities. It is easy to throw around the altruistic script on the web, however in real life, nurses are humans not angels. If you dont look out for yourself in health care, you are setting yourself up to be exploited.