A rant from the night shift.

Nurses General Nursing

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I work 7pm to 7am. Let me say that again.... MY shift ends at 7am. I appreciate that the day nurses come in bright eyed and bushy tailed, and I certainly wouldn't want you to come in late. BUT, don't come flying into the hospital at 6:30am and start demanding MARs and paperwork from me with this "Well the real nurse is here now" attitude. I'm done taking care of my patients when 7am comes and I give you report. I am not hiding the patient's paperwork from you.... I'm WORKING. I can't re-check my MARs and make sure everyone is medicated for pain and that all the care plans are in the packet if you come in and just take my paperwork.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

You need to say just that to them.

Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I love nurses that want to start report at 6:30. And unless I'm having major issues, I have everything ready to turn over to them well before then. It's easier to tie up loose ends when I no longer have a full patient load to deal with.

I'm also ready for report early every day if anyone wants to give it to me. And if the day nurse isn't ready, I start seeing patients and answering call lights before report. It gives me a chance to do quick assessments and helps the day nurse get caught up.

So early people, you are loved by some of us! :redbeathe

Specializes in Med-Swing/Rehab.
I work 7pm to 7am. Let me say that again.... MY shift ends at 7am. I appreciate that the day nurses come in bright eyed and bushy tailed, and I certainly wouldn't want you to come in late. BUT, don't come flying into the hospital at 6:30am and start demanding MARs and paperwork from me with this "Well the real nurse is here now" attitude. I'm done taking care of my patients when 7am comes and I give you report. I am not hiding the patient's paperwork from you.... I'm WORKING. I can't re-check my MARs and make sure everyone is medicated for pain and that all the care plans are in the packet if you come in and just take my paperwork.

Oh... about the big bold 7am - nursing is 24/7 just in case you hadn't realized. I do not agree about the "real nurse is here now" attitude though. Sorry. A nurse is a nurse.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

So early people, you are loved by some of us! :redbeathe

Yep. I saw the opposite more often - the nurses who rushed through the door at 7:02 every day, or the ones that punched in, but then had to get their coffee first and chat with their coworkers for a few minutes before being ready to receive report. Meanwhile, I'm dead on my feet and just want to get out of there, and I'm always ready with pen in hand and able to receive report no later than 18:50.

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

At my hospital, we are expected to be somewhere on the floor by 6:45 on either shift (even if that means sitting in the break room). Does not matter what you do during that time before 7:00, but you better be ready for report at 7:00 on the nose.

Also, our patient records are almost completely digital, so one can literally log into a computer across the unit at 6:45 and scan MAR and orders without having to disturb the outgoing nurse. I guess I feel spoiled with this system, having done my first clinical at this hospital and then becoming frustrated with subsequent clinicals at paper-only hospitals.

I had a great preceptor for capstone who instilled good habits into me for report and getting to the floor before 7:00. I think I would be hard-pressed to find work at another hospital that is not completely or almost completely digital.

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

How do they even know who they will be getting? assuming this is a hospital. Our charge nurse makes the assignments, and we don't know which zone we'll be in, let alone which group of patients.

Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Nursing is 24/7. There have been times where my shift is supposed to end at 7am, but there are times when it doesn't.

I love the nurses who come in at 06:30-06:40 and are ready to start report, though! :redbeathe :up:

Specializes in LTC/Rehab, ICF/MR, Mental Health.

The last place I worked my shift ended at 6am..it was nothing for day shift nurses to come strolling in at 6:20 or so. I can understand once in a while being late but they did it every time they worked.

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They don't take report! Just all of my paperwork. And they freaking leave the unit and go get their coffee with my MARs in hand!!!!

Specializes in ICU.

usually the rant has to do with dayshift being too late or talking to everyone enjoying their coffee before taking report.

I kind of get what your saying, there was ONE nurse who started asking questions and why certaint hings weren't done and where is this and that at 6:45am. And that ****** me off, because I'm trying to finish up and usually those things weren't done yet, because I wasn't done yet. The labs aren't there because I didn't get a chance to print them yet. SO help yourself and print them. Don't question them though until I sit down to report.

However, if I'm ready and your ready and you want to take report at 6:45am. By all means.

Will never want to work at some place that is not all EMR. soooooooooooo much simpler. countless people can look at the MAR, hp, chart all at once. My gripe is that the residents see pts at 6 and sometimes ALL OF Your patients get a ton of new orders. you can't do them all and be ready by 7am. the stat/high priority ones get done first. everything else will get passed on.

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