would you finish work from previoius shift?

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2006

Welll....it all depends. We know that nursing is a 24 hr job, so things do not always get done. If the shift was nuts and the nurse was running her but off trying to get things done,etc...I would offer to get those done. Dependign on the treatments...if it s a q day I would do it for them..if it was a bid...I would be doing it anyway. As far as admissions etc..The biggest thing to get done is the orders, admit assessment and skin assesments. Now again...it depends on what time the admit came in, etc.

If this is a frequent occurance and people are telling me that so and so is taking 15 minute smoke breaks or sitting at the desk chatting on the phone, you better believe that I would say something.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2006

Nursing is 24/7. That said, the work gets done as it gets done.

If the person habitually dumps on you, and is seen lollygagging around, when they could have done the work easily...it is a problem.

If they have run their feet off, and admitting sends a patient at 30minutes til report and the MD doesn't write orders for 20 minutes, then let em' slide.

MarySunshine · Oct 21, 2006

Most of my unit works hard and does their best to be timely, so if I am doing "their" work it's okay. I'm sure they'll pick up something I was supposed to do sometime in the future. It's 24/7.

I agree with Michelle though...I would not be impressed if I heard they had been taking smoke breaks and surfing the internet a lot that day.

JentheRN05, RN · Oct 21, 2006

If this is a frequent occurance and people are telling me that so and so is taking 15 minute smoke breaks or sitting at the desk chatting on the phone, you better believe that I would say something.

:yeahthat:

NurseCherlove · Oct 21, 2006

Well, I'll just say that when I am the one who has run their butt off and have to 'give' next shift some of the work, it is a total guilt trip! I HATE having to pass on anything other than report. For example, last night it was 1910 and I was in a patient's room giving IV pain med and had a handfull of other meds that had just arrived from pharmacy for other patients. While the nurse was waiting for me to get report (new shift begins at 1900), I'm sure she appreciated my efforts and didn't mind the wait for that reason. I really try to make every effort possible to make it easier for the next shift, more so than many other nurses I've encountered. Many nurses consider their patient care work finished about 10-15 minutes before the next shift starts from what I've seen. Not that these nurse are just standing around for the rest of their time. They are focusing on things like finishing up chart checks, plans of care documentation, charting, etc. so that they can leave on time. And then there's me...the nurse who is chronically late leaving. To tell you the truth, I think the above-mentioned nurses have healthier boundaries than I do and there is nothing wrong with that.

tencat · Oct 21, 2006

I would, and I have. By the same token, I've left some end of shift meds etc. on days where I barely had time to use the bathroom, let alone get everything done. I wonder where people find the time to sit around or take long breaks.

RGN1 · Oct 21, 2006

It's give & take. Sometimes there are genuine reasons for work not being finished & I'm sure we've all been in that position & that's fine. If it's always the same nurse though & there is really no good reason for it then I might feel I should say something.

truern · Oct 21, 2006

I would do the work...it's not the patient's fault, after all, that the previous nurse couldn't get everything done during her shift that was needed. It's not happened that often, though...I'm sure my attitude would be different if that were a common occurence.

I always try to help out the shift coming after me...making sure to have another bag of IVF in the room, etc.

LisaRn21 · Oct 21, 2006

So what would you do if you followed a nurse who only worked 4 hours with the patients and they didn't chart anything no assessment some I and O's and only signed out some of their meds....would you say something next time you saw them? Do you guys chart an assessment if you are there only 4 hours? I do but I was thinking maybe everyone doesn't when I saw this

mc4RN · Oct 21, 2006

I would finish the work. I have been there and done it for a previous shift and it did not hurt me any. It is give and take. Although sometimes what comes around goes around (I mean literally). One time I passed on part of an admission (the part the next shift could do) and the next day I got it and then finished, so the nurses did not do it. Hopefully, nurses will help each other out because we do whats best for the patients, well we better. Overall, where I work we try to finish and be team players :)

Mulan · Oct 21, 2006

So what would you do if you followed a nurse who only worked 4 hours with the patients and they didn't chart anything no assessment some I and O's and only signed out some of their meds....would you say something next time you saw them? Do you guys chart an assessment if you are there only 4 hours? I do but I was thinking maybe everyone doesn't when I saw this

In my experience with 4 hour shifts and assessments/charting, it depends on the policy of where you are working. Check on the policy for 4 hour workers.