10 Tips for Staying out of the Nursing Office Hot Seat

Michael M. Heuninckx

1. Don't be late

There is no way around it, late is late, one minute or twenty. Also there is no wiggle room around the facts and everyone is held to the same standard. If this is a problem for you, really take the time to identify what factors are making you late, intervene and you should be just fine.

2. Avoid sloppy charting, know the expectations of your workplace

Don't fight the charting. Ask your manager or nursing educator what the expectations are for your charting. Another way to ask this questions to find out what the charts get audited for. Once you have your list and fully know the expectations, develop a checklist or plan to ensure that all of your charting is covered.

3. Keep your nursing license and certifications current

You will quickly be out of a job or placed on leave until your nursing license or mandatory certifications are current. Set reminders for yourself in your phone or calendar months before the license or certification is set to expire. Classes fill up quickly, are far and few between, and NO ONE wants to be taking the NCLEX for a second time.

4. Keep a good log of your call-ins

Every time you call in, mark it down in your calendar. Or, check with the scheduler to know how many you have left or when one is about to fall off. It would just be aggravating to accidentally make this mistake and get called into the office because of it.

5. Don't retaliate if you feel you have been wronged

Two wrongs don't make a right, you can do anything for 12 hours. Retaliation never wins; it only creates an unsafe work environment. The last thing anyone needs is a "he said, she said" battle in the manager's office. Save yourself the headache and keep it moving. If you can see this being more than a shift or "12 hour" problem, do your best to address the problem after your shift is complete or when patient care is not being performed.

6. Follow your policy

Policy is policy, there is no way around it and is your responsibility to know and follow. Take the time to educate yourself about policies for the hospital and your specific department. Also, if you work at multiple facilities, know what is OK at each place.

7. Avoid short-cuts with medication administration

Never be in too much of a rush when you are administering medications. Regardless of how big or small the error is; all medication errors must be reported.

8. Refrain from short-cuts when labeling your labs and ALWAYS double verify the pink top!

Here too, no shortcuts. Do not fall victim of allowing the technology to be your final safety check. It is ultimately up to you to verify that the computer is printing and scanning correctly.

9. Don't forget about your flu vaccine and TB test

Set reminders and do not wait until the last minute. These also fall into the category of letting your mandatory certifications lapse. If you are noncompliant here, you will find yourself sent home or notified not to return until you can prove that you have received your vaccine or passed your TB test. Also, note that after you receive your TB test you have to wait at least 48 hours, and no more than 72 hours, before you can have it read and receive the, "OK", to return back to work.1

10. Check your work email every shift

Next to attending a meeting, your work email is how everyone in the hospital, including your manager, will communicate with you. Never find yourself in the situation where you get called into the office and your manager asks you "did you check your email? I sent that out a month ago and a follow-up reminder". Again this is one of those expectations, know it, accept it, do it, and you will not have a problem.

Finally, if you do your job, do it well, avoid drama and are a solid team player, you will have successfully stacked the deck in your favor, in attempts to stay out of the office hot seat!

Michael M. Heuninckx RN-BSN

Reference

1.) CDC | TB | Fact Sheets - Tuberculin Skin Testing for TB

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Code Blue! Now What? Learn What To Do When Your Patients Need You The Most!