Hours in rehab nursing

TracyB,RN, RN · Jul 30, 2004

My acute inpatient rehab unit has 3 8hr shifts, days, eves, nocs...

Sometimes 12's are available, only if a shift is short a nurse, so I frequently sign up to work 7p-7a.

My unit has 15 beds, 3 nurses, 2 cna's day & evening shift(5-1ratio). 2 nurses & 1 cna for noc shift(i nurse takes 8, the other takes 7)....

I work nocs & we are repsonsible for assessments, chart & MAR checks, crash cart checks, in addition to answering call lights, toileting, CPM machines, rehab specific paperwork, bathing & dressing the early therapy pts, dressing changes that didn't get done on the earlier shifts, meds, in addition to misc duties, cleaning that is supposed to rotate, but usually done on nocs, if we want a clean space to work in,uuuggghhh & just about anything else that may come our way...... Pt/OT see pts anywhere from 8:30a until 5p.. Our pts are with us for the entire 8 hrs, days & evenings, don't see pts for a good chunk of their shift b/c pts are in extended therapies, sometimes up to 3-4 hrs per day.

So, we have a higher ratio on nocs b/c "the pts are sleeping" YEAH RIGHT!!!!! More work with half the staff.... I think I want a higher shift diff!!!

danu3 · Jul 30, 2004

Thanks, that is very helpful.

-Dan

Chaya, ASN, RN · Aug 5, 2004

Also work acute inpatient rehab. We go the full spectrum. Most people work 8-hour shifts (7A-3:30P, 3P-11:30P, 11p-7:30A). Some people work 12 hour shift (7-7); some of those work a Baylor (every weekend) and one nurse does two 8 hour and two twelve hour shifts to make up 40 hours. A large proportion of the staff does part-time (3-4 days/ wk).

susnam · Aug 19, 2004

We have a choice of 8 hour shifts or 12 hour shifts. We each get 4-7 patients, depending on census. We may or may not have a CNA, but usually there is 1 CNA to 20 patients if they are available.

We are responsible for getting the patients to the dining room by 8 a.m. for breakfast, then there's the 0900 med pass. Then we have to make sure they are premedicated for their therapies, we do assessments, offer ADL assistance, do weights, specimen and lab gathering as ordered (we do our own blood draws on the weekends when phlebotomy isn't there). We get the patients back in the dining room by 1200 for lunch. We assist with toileting and transfers and also answer call lights. The patients reconvene in the dining room at 1800 for dinner. The night shift is responsible for showers, based on odd rooms get baths/showers on odd days, even rooms get showers/baths on even days.

Days are easier because the patients have at least 3 hours of therapy a day. You can leave a patient in a chair and know that therapy will come get them and take care of whatever needs to be done with them, with the goal of the patient becoming independent. On nights, we nurses do it all. We earn that shift differential.

The hardest part of the job, without any question, is transferring the paralyzed stroke patients. We have a hoyer lift, but when you get somebody who is 200+ pounds, any method of transfer is difficult.

I love developing relationships with my patients and it is so exciting and rewarding to see them blossom with PT/OT/ST/RT/TR.

Our food is outstanding and our patients frequently tell us they enjoy being in our hospital. We nurses get lots of candy, cards, and flowers.

Susan

Sierra22 · Jan 27, 2005

8 hour shifts including nights... generally morning shifts are the busiest with patients attending therapy, appointments and there are just more staff wandering around looking for patients to see. Afternoons are quieter unless there are new admissions, which is often the case. Night shifts can go either way but there is paperwork and filing that needs to be done from the other shifts.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2005

8 hour shifts including nights... generally morning shifts are the busiest with patients attending therapy, appointments and there are just more staff wandering around looking for patients to see. Afternoons are quieter unless there are new admissions, which is often the case. Night shifts can go either way but there is paperwork and filing that needs to be done from the other shifts.

Do you work as part of an MDT and see nurses as therapists. Do RN's attend case conferences, discharge planning meetings ect. Or is your work still mainly nursing?

Just curious

Kay

Wise Woman RN · Feb 3, 2005

My acute inpatient rehab unit has 3 8hr shifts, days, eves, nocs...
Sometimes 12's are available, only if a shift is short a nurse, so I frequently sign up to work 7p-7a.
My unit has 15 beds, 3 nurses, 2 cna's day & evening shift(5-1ratio). 2 nurses & 1 cna for noc shift(i nurse takes 8, the other takes 7)....
I work nocs & we are repsonsible for assessments, chart & MAR checks, crash cart checks, in addition to answering call lights, toileting, CPM machines, rehab specific paperwork, bathing & dressing the early therapy pts, dressing changes that didn't get done on the earlier shifts, meds, in addition to misc duties, cleaning that is supposed to rotate, but usually done on nocs, if we want a clean space to work in,uuuggghhh & just about anything else that may come our way...... Pt/OT see pts anywhere from 8:30a until 5p.. Our pts are with us for the entire 8 hrs, days & evenings, don't see pts for a good chunk of their shift b/c pts are in extended therapies, sometimes up to 3-4 hrs per day.
So, we have a higher ratio on nocs b/c "the pts are sleeping" YEAH RIGHT!!!!! More work with half the staff.... I think I want a higher shift diff!!!

We have similar unit, nocs gets 1 nurse, 1 tech. Days gets 3 nurses, 1 tech. Does your unit have a secretary?

cranky · Mar 24, 2005

At my inpatient rehab all the nurses work 12 hour shifts. We are greatly invoved in all aspects of pt care. We attend team conference with the docs, therapists pharmacy etc.. The nursing staff consists of RNs LVNs and CNAs. We all pretty much work as a team.