incremental overtime

[maggiejones]

I have recently returned to the bedside at a new small hospital in a low acuity ICU I am shocked at the incremental overtime among the staff nurses. Most of the staff arives about 10-15 minutes late then does charge nurse report and may be 20 minutes after clockout time the bedside report begins, No one makes an attempt to clock out on time, I am trying to find a way to change this behavior and have suggested alternatives but the the habit is ingrained and I have met with much hostility, any suggestions?

[Repat]

We tape report - sorts out those problems!

[nursemaa]

Our nurses listen to a general report (overview of the patients for the purpose of making assignments) on the whole unit, then get specifics on their assigned patients on a one-to-one basis. I've told the nurses to start report at the appropriate time, and anyone who wanders in late is just out of luck. Seems to have helped those who are chronically late to get in on time. I also address tardiness problems with corrective action. It's not fair to inconvenience your peers and disrupt report just because you have "issues" with getting to work on time.

Also, I think the term is "incidental overtime", not "incremental overtime". :)

[SnowymtnRN]

Our nurses listen to a general report (overview of the patients for the purpose of making assignments) on the whole unit, then get specifics on their assigned patients on a one-to-one basis. I've told the nurses to start report at the appropriate time, and anyone who wanders in late is just out of luck. Seems to have helped those who are chronically late to get in on time. I also address tardiness problems with corrective action. It's not fair to inconvenience your peers and disrupt report just because you have "issues" with getting to work on time.

Also, I think the term is "incidental overtime", not "incremental overtime". :)

This is not so bad either to do it this way. But it sounds like you are the nurse manager or something right? just curious, i think that's why everyone was confused on the OP's statement. It seems she's a bedside nurse, not in management. Of course i'm not sure yet.......

[nursemaa]

This is not so bad either to do it this way. But it sounds like you are the nurse manager or something right? just curious, i think that's why everyone was confused on the OP's statement. It seems she's a bedside nurse, not in management. Of course i'm not sure yet.......

Yes, I'm the nurse manager. Perhaps the OP could talk to her manager about the problem and suggest a staff meeting to deal with it. I'm surprised that the manager hasn't put his/her foot down...I know that I was getting alot of flack from above about nurses staying over too often. That really adds up in terms of $$ over time. It's one thing to need to be over occasionally because you had the shift from h*** and couldn't get everything done, it's quite another to have to stay because the oncoming shift can't get it together and be ready for report on time.

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

Also, I think the term is "incidental overtime", not "incremental overtime". :)

Thank you! I was beating my head against the wall because I couldn't remember the term; I just knew the other one didn't sound right lol.

Re: the original question, peer input is important in establishing what the acceptable standard of conduct on a given unit is. There are, of course, standards that SHOULD be "the way" everywhere - being ready to start your shift on time is a basic expectation. However, when there are enough people bucking the expectation, those who believe in showing up on time are in the minority. That's why anyone who has attendance problems, whether tardiness or frequent absences, should be counseled BY MANAGEMENT earlier rather than later, or run the risk of having others either throw up their hands in disgust and follow suit or leave for a more professional working atmosphere.

If your management has let things get this far out of control, only they can reign it back in, and not without significant turmoil.

[SnowymtnRN]

Yes, I'm the nurse manager. Perhaps the OP could talk to her manager about the problem and suggest a staff meeting to deal with it. I'm surprised that the manager hasn't put his/her foot down...I know that I was getting alot of flack from above about nurses staying over too often. That really adds up in terms of $$ over time. It's one thing to need to be over occasionally because you had the shift from h*** and couldn't get everything done, it's quite another to have to stay because the oncoming shift can't get it together and be ready for report on time.

Thanks! You are right tho, if this is the case, it could add up and its NOT ok to stay over every day and acrue OT. I'm surprised we haven't seen more input from the OP.