Inconsiderate Co-workers/Shift Change

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Specializes in LTC.

I was wondering if any of you have had this problem and what you did to address it: When I come in to work I make it a point to arrive 10-15 min early to count off and get report. For whatever reason, it takes on average 45 min for me to get report and count off. Sometimes longer. The off-going nurse will stay at the desk with it still exploded so I have nowhere to begin my shift. Most nights the off-going will linger at least an hr if not longer d/t wandering around having personal conversations with other staff. I have seen them just sitting there texting as well. Irritating. Days comes in when they feel like it. Sometimes up to 20 min late with no phone call to make me aware that there is a delay. I just sit and hope someone is coming. I have the desk cleaned up and am ready for report by no later than 15 min til end of shift because I am ready to go home. I have left the building almost an hr past shift because of day shift wants to talk to every single person that happens by.

I feel that coming in a little early and being prepared to get/give report and count off are common courtesies in a work environment. I have addressed the problem directly with the staff involved, and have seen some improvement, but it still continues. I'm not one to run to management unless my attempts to address the situation are unsuccessful, but I'm willing to take that next step if necessary.

Comments have even been made about me wanting to "get out of here as fast as possible." Well, yes. Yes I do. Why is that a problem? I have explained that the longer that I am there, the more fatigued I become and therefore the more likely I will have issues driving home. I have a 30 min commute in the dark at high speeds. I have scared the crap out of myself driving home fatigued d/t being delayed so much on some days. Not good.

I am not a chatty person and am not there to make friends. I am friendly enough but am not interested in your drama. I just want to take care of my people and go home. Is that too much to ask?

Specializes in Med-Surg.

I used to have issues with one person in particular at my previous job. I tried talking to her, management, director, you name it. Finally one day she did pretty much what you describe, came in late, socialized, etc.

I handed her a written report on the patients and special events of the night/what was to come for her shift. She got to the nurse's station, I handed her my papers, and walked away.

She was shocked. 'Wait, I don't know these patients!' 'Well, I was ready to give you a verbal report when my shift ended half an hour ago. Everything you need to know is on there, the rest you will find when you do your chart check. Have a great day!' And I left. She didn't really stop her bad habits, but it seems like she wasn't AS late after that lol.

That was a pet peeve of mine when I worked LTC. I always got there 15 minutes early to get report. I would have to wait sometimes 30 minutes to get a half -a**ed report then another 15 minutes or so to get the med carts...only to find them out of supplies and in a complete mess. That put me far behind on my med pass. I felt rushed until well past midnight. Once I could finally sit down to chart, I had to rush so I could be ready for the 6am med pass. I always made sure it was all done, carts were stocked and clean for the next shift. They would stroll in at exactly 7am, get their breakfast/coffee ready then only partially pay attention to report. I NEVER got to leave on time. They didn't care that I had to still drive home and get my kds to school.

Specializes in Family practice, emergency.

Ongoing problem at my work, too. More than a handful of day shift comes in waaaaay laaaate, and this is not the case for nights (I've worked both). I understand that getting up at sucks, but so does staying up that late. I still arrive a few minutes early, but I've failed at trying to create an environment of getting people out on time :-(

Specializes in retired LTC.

I'm surprised that admin hasn't groused at the overtime of 11-7 and the tardiness of 7-3.

Specializes in LTC.
I'm surprised that admin hasn't groused at the overtime of 11-7 and the tardiness of 7-3.

One ray of hope I have is we have a new d.o.n. that just started, as well as a company buyout effective Jan 1. Crossing my fingers. :)

Specializes in retired LTC.
One ray of hope I have is we have a new d.o.n. that just started, as well as a company buyout effective Jan 1. Crossing my fingers. :)
Oh, it's coming ...

Comments have even been made about me wanting to "get out of here as fast as possible." Well, yes. Yes I do. Why is that a problem? I have explained that the longer that I am there, the more fatigued I become and therefore the more likely I will have issues driving home. I have a 30 min commute in the dark at high speeds. I have scared the crap out of myself driving home fatigued d/t being delayed so much on some days. Not good.

I am not a chatty person and am not there to make friends. I am friendly enough but am not interested in your drama. I just want to take care of my people and go home. Is that too much to ask?

You need to take care of YOU if you are going to be recharged to come back and do it again. And part of that is leaving on time. I hear ya. Call the supervisor/ADON whenever an employee is 15 min late, not there yet, and say "I wanted to make sure I have coverage and no one called off." Call enough times (every time it happens) and the supervisor may finally get annoyed enough to end it by directly addressing those employees. You could also say to the late oncoming nurse "I understand sometimes things happen, but I need to know I can rely on my relief coming on time."

As far as being ready to get report as soon as you show up and they are not ready....demand report. You can say something like "give me report now so I can get started, then finish what you have to do."

I agree with all of the responses to your dilemma. Use your assertiveness and follow the correct level of command if you need to discuss or report this issue. Don't backstab or gossip(it doesn't sound like you are doing this). You deserve respect, and the nurses or staff who are not respecting you by being tardy for report and other duties so you may leave when you should or want/need to leave need to be made aware of their behavior. Don't become visibly angry at work. Handle this matter appropriately and professionally. The best to you.

Specializes in kids.

When I work perdiem,the night nurse will come in (we cannot punch in more than 7 min early)....If she wants to do fiddle around until then I dont care, but some nights I have to say "Hey I wanna go home!"...then she is all kinds of surprised...I have to pay for the way the day shift treats her...no love lost there.

Frustrates me to no end. I can come in at 2 minutes before the shift starts and sit and get report at the stroke of the hour but other people need their coffee, need to chat with everyone in the office....drives me nuts!

I will never forget that obnoxious nurse at my old job who would not stop talking. So I started saying in a very loud voice "I am starting my shift report right now". She would still be talking to others while I gave report so I just continued to talk right over her while she was still talking.

She didn't hear much of my report because she wouldn't shut up. However, that was "her choice". I gave the report. She chose to keep talking. It's not my fault if she missed important information during report. My goal is to leave work as soon as possible. It is so irritating when people stay over for no reason.

Specializes in LTC/SNF.

I hear your frustration about the socialization and unorganized nurses' station. At my facility we are only allowed to clock in 5 mins early, and we are vastly understaffed for our census, so if something goes wrong during the big am or pm med passes, a timely change of shift goes straight out the window. I try to clean/organize and fill out my report sheet as I go, that way if I get a little behind, the oncoming nurse can at least peruse the report sheet and plan their day while I finish my med pass. I stay late if need be to finish paperwork and treatments so that I am not pushing extra duties onto another shift. I try to be considerate to my co-workers and finish my shift in a timely manner, but sometimes s*** happens and that is just the nature of the beast. I hate the attitude I get from the oncoming nurse if my shift runs a few minutes late due to a catastrophe, but then she wants to sit there and socialize with everyone and their mom when I am trying to start report. Let's get this show on the road!

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