Giving Report to Day Shift...advice please

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We give verbal report from nights to days. I have 6 patients, and often they are extremely heavy. In addition, the hospital has cut our support staff to almost nothing, so that means I do EKGs, labs, IV sticks, try to hunt for SOMEONE to transport to CT in the middle of the night, turns, bed alarms ect...Its crazy. And of course last night there were issues all night with each of my patients. Which means I didnt get to chart.

So here comes day shiift. I give a very thorough report, to which the day shift nurse retorts, "YOU DIDNT CHART THE XYZ MED" ARRRGGGGHHHH!!! Excuze me, I kept up with these patients so you woulnt have a mess in the morning...I have not even sat down yet, nor gotten a break...

What should I say???? I usually am so tired that I get defensive and say, "well I was busy all night long, and am trying to give you report in a timely way, but I havent had time to chart yet, and I will" (kind of iin a snotty way from exhaustion)but I feel like a (#*$*.

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Next time, ask which she would prefer - that you get up right NOW to do the charting, or continue with report. Or, simply get up and go to do the charting. Do you ever get report from the day shift? Are they completely finished every time?

This has been going on since the beginning of time, with shift changes and reports. Ask the difficult one if she would prefer to work nights so you can have her day shift spot.

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Kill 'em with kindness.."you are so right! I intended to do that as soon as report is over but thank you for reminding me". Try to smile and unclench your jaw when you say it....

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

another reason why people don't stay in bedside nursing.....you would think you would have more support, but unfortunately i don't think it will ever change i nursing. stand up for yourself and know that as long as you deliver safe pt care that is all that really matters.

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That's how it is in every job with a night and day shift. When I was a bartender day shift always complained about night shift, and night shift complained about day shift. I was the only one who worked both so I stayed out of it.:rolleyes:

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Are you the only one that can't get to the charting? Are they complaining that you didn't chart a PRN med in the MAR or just that you didn't get it charted as a progress note???

I agree with everyone else, it is a age old issue. Each shift complains about the other. I too would give them a choice..would you like me to chart now or continue with report.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Education.

Nursing is a 24/7 job. Our patients will almost always need to toilet during shift change, doctors and/or family will call for an update during shift change. No matter what happens during your shift, the most important thing is that your patients are safe. Charting can always be finished at a later time. Don't sweat the day nurses snidy remarks. They are grumpy because they have to drive in rush-hour traffic both ways! I think what you really want to say but don't, is perfect. Hurt feelings are also not of your concern. Best of luck! Keep up the terrific work!

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.

I wish my on-coming relief would check the MAR and help me catch what I've missed, so I can fix it before I leave. Instead, many of them spend their prep time reading consults and imaging results that I haven't had time to look at. Then they quiz me about stuff that I would have love to know but had no chance.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
We give verbal report from nights to days. I have 6 patients, and often they are extremely heavy. In addition, the hospital has cut our support staff to almost nothing, so that means I do EKGs, labs, IV sticks, try to hunt for SOMEONE to transport to CT in the middle of the night, turns, bed alarms ect...Its crazy. And of course last night there were issues all night with each of my patients. Which means I didnt get to chart.

So here comes day shiift. I give a very thorough report, to which the day shift nurse retorts, "YOU DIDNT CHART THE XYZ MED" ARRRGGGGHHHH!!! Excuze me, I kept up with these patients so you woulnt have a mess in the morning...I have not even sat down yet, nor gotten a break...

What should I say???? I usually am so tired that I get defensive and say, "well I was busy all night long, and am trying to give you report in a timely way, but I havent had time to chart yet, and I will" (kind of iin a snotty way from exhaustion)but I feel like a (#*$*.

I would simply say this:

"Everything that was supposed to be done during the night, has been completed, meds, everything...I need additional time to chart because it has been busy. However, in all sense of professionalism, I would appreciate it if you did not pass judgement on how my night went as I wouldn't do that to you....any of us can have a bad/busy day/night."

I have had to say that more than once.

My other favorite from senior nurses when I give report, "Well, that was a stupid order"....My response: "Well, Dr _____, will be in today, you can discuss that with him/her."

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I'd appreciate knowing what nurses think about handoffs for my dissertation research. For more information, here is the link to my allnurses.com info: Thanks!

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/communication-behaviors-associated-457407.html

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Nice response BabyLady:up: Professional but firm :) I will have to remember that one!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

If there are things that I have not charted or meds I have given but not signed off yet, I always tell the oncoming nurse "Just so you know, I'm not done charting yet. I will be here for a little while if you have any questions." We try to give report in front of the computer (we do computer charting) so I can open up the MAR and show them what I gave but haven't signed off, or any new orders that I have not completed because they were ordered near change of shift (that way they see the time it was entered and can't b***h at me for not doing it). Of course, nobody's perfect and I have called the day nurse to tell them something I forgot in report. And there have been plenty of times where a med will not be signed off and the nurse never told me anything about it, if it was given/held, delayed for whatever reason. Just remind the oncoming nurse that you still have charting to do so it's best to go by the verbal report right now and not rely completely on the chart until you are done. Otherwise, do what previous posts mentioned and just stop report and start charting if the nurse is really giving you a problem, then ask them what they prefer-if you chart or give report. :)

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