Getting out late.

[Dempather, RN]

Does anybody here get out later than their shift ends? I'm on week eight of orientation, and today, my shift ended at 4:30, but I didn't get out until 6:30! I spent the last two hours finishing charts, taping (we have tape report), etc. I'm not sure whether it's due to me not catching on, or being hypervigilant about EVERYTHING, maybe both. Anybody else feel this way?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

It's quite common that first year to wind up late. I think I was late getting out for the first two years in fact, and still am late occasionally.

Two hours is a bit much and you have to take a look at that. Being hypervigilent is not necessary a bad thing, but if you're consistently close to two hours late, then it's time to make some changes.

[Dempather, RN]

In lieu of recent discussion on the boards, I feel compelled to add that I work on a Tele/Step-Down unit (one room with 4 step-down beds.. all the others are medicine). I'm on six patients right now -- and it gets a significant amount higher at nights (which I'll go to in a month). On top of all else, maybe I'm getting out late due to my organizational skills. I'm still trying to get my bearings, though. Thanks for the advice.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I NEVER get out on time. And I only have one patient. Our unit does a general report that usually takes about 10 minutes and starts on the dot of 7, then an in-depth head-to-toe system review bedside report, which takes anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour. Then we have to review all the orders received for the shift. Sometimes there are five or six pages, depending on how unstable the kid has been. I rarely get out before 7:30, usually more like 7:40. For me it has nothing to do with organization and everything to do with acuity and not leaving anything out. And we are not permitted to claim overtime for this, even though management knows very well that no one leaves on time, because all overtime has to be preapproved.