How Do You Manage To Clock Out On Time?

SirJohnny · Jul 23, 2003

All:

- I am still in school - getting started actually.

- Question: If you clock out late - do you get paid for the "extra time" - or do you work "off the clock"?

- How does management view this? I would assume that if you are working over 40 hours a week - that this would be "overtime pay" and that management would be pushing you to get done on time.

- Any one care to comment?

Thanks,

John Coxey

Gator,SN · Jul 23, 2003

How Do You Manage To Clock Out On Time?

I don't usually clock out "on time" but lucky for me, they pay by the quarter hour so that if I leave at 7:29 instead of 7:15, I still get paid until 7:15. If I am there until 7:30, my manager puts a message in my mailbox and I write an explaination for the time on it and stick it back in hers.

Part of the problem that I see is that we have to be there at 6:45 or (18:45) and people show up at that time. They are not clocking in late (technically) but they also then have to check the board, say hello to everyone, run to the bathroom (long trips ya know..) get the paperwork, check mailboxes, find out who is charge etc.. and then they are ready for report!

My new favorite is the person who won't let you give report, they want to stop and ask questions every 2 seconds.

I have worked where it is taped and where report is face to face. The taped report is a pain because you are listening to everything and wait for your specific patients, in face to face report lots of other things get talked about too....

Gator

funnygirl_rn · Jul 23, 2003

Originally posted by John Coxey
All:

- I am still in school - getting started actually.

- Question: If you clock out late - do you get paid for the "extra time" - or do you work "off the clock"?

- How does management view this? I would assume that if you are working over 40 hours a week - that this would be "overtime pay" and that management would be pushing you to get done on time.

- Any one care to comment?

Thanks,

John Coxey

John, I guess it would depend where you work. Most of the places that I worked at did pay OT or would compensate you accordingly, but they are making you fill out a form justifying why you worked over....it is a pre-made form asking you to check off a specific box on WHY you stayed over. Where I work now...it is like pulling teeth to get compensated...grrrrr!

Rapheal · Jul 23, 2003

Originally posted by sjoe
The quick way:

Decide to say "NO" to those frequent additional tasks given you by one and all (most of which entail doing parts of someone else's job). Decide to say "NO" to excessive patient loads. Decide to say "YES" to your breaks and lunch hours and quitting times.

Know your limits, set your limits, enforce them. Nobody else will do it, I'll guarantee. Remember:

Somedays I seriously wish I was sjoe. If we ALL demanded our breaks and lunches, if we ALL demanded safe ratios, we would get additional help and staffing. We need to somehow unite for our well being and the safety of our patients.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 23, 2003

sjoe has it right. (most of the time this is true anyhow!!!)

99% of the time I do clock out on time. I do shift reports as I go (when in charge), I eyeball narc counts frequently so they are right as we go (no "who used the 2 percoset missing here?" 8 hours after the fact)----

I chart as I go also. That is a challenge----but I stick to that as much as possible. Saves me much time later on.

I get my shift assessments done asap, at that time, I check who needs pain meds and get them and their water/juice at that time. Make them comfortable as soon as I arrive and they are much less needy, usually. Charting as I go and making the patients comfortable in advance seem to be the biggest time-savers for me.

Yes, there are ALWAYS unanticipated admits, precipitous deliveries, patients who are needy. But somehow, most of the time, I am able to keep up. Also, having folks who are team players helps. If someone's light goes off and I see the primary nurse is not around, I get it. They do the same for me. This goes without asking or saying where I work.

I get out at 7:30 99% of the time. The other 1% is unavoidable stuff, like change-of-shift deliveries, new admits, complications, csections. It does happen. But not that often. Time management is a huge part of my practice. I have to have it or I am lost.

MandyInMS · Jul 23, 2003

One thing that has helped me get out on time 99% of the time is to do things a little early when time permits..we are given the time frame 1hour before/after..i opt for the before whenever possible..ex-give 9oclock meds/accuchecks/dsg's/procedures at 8/830...it never fails...they always want to send an admit when med pass is due...at least if I have assessed my pts,given their meds ect. I feel like I can handle the admit..or whatever else 'hits the fan' :) Also, agree with purplemania..we GOTTA help each other out!!..I've found if you help somebody out when they are in a 'tight' they'll be glad to return the favor.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2003

we pay overtime but try to keep a lid on it as some people will ride the clock. Does not make sense if all but one nurse got thru on time and it is consistently same nurse.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 23, 2003

WE are "talked to" if excessive OT is noted by any one nurse, supposedly. However, I see the same nurses hanging around, charting and chatting (a lot of the latter)---- WELL past 1930.....

I dunno, I have a family to get home to, and ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE TO hang around to chitchat. DO I work off the clock???? Heck NOOOOO---no siree!!!!! If I have to be there, I am ON THE CLOCK and believe me, it's legit!!!

4XNURSE · Jul 23, 2003

Renee,

I gotta agree with Babs on the charting at the bedside thing.

I also wanted to comment about how I solved some of the problems with being under stocked with supplies. - I made myself a stash. I got to where I would get all my supplies at the beginning of the shift, and put them in the patients rooms. Then they would be there later when I needed them. I actually found a place to hide some of the most critical items. I had a friend ask me about some things a few months after my accident took me out of one of the places I worked. I went down there and showed him where my supply was. - It was still there and still usable. - he took over my spot. I figured if central supply was going to short stock us, I would be the advocate for "MY" patients, and make sure I had the stuff "THEY" needed.

It didn't solve all the problems, but having the things I needed to give the care my patients needed sure helped my delivery.

Just my $0.02.

ken :devil:

New CCU RN · Jul 23, 2003

The number one thing that helps is doing things early!!!! It makes life so much easier and you seem to have time for the unexpected...admit, crashing patient, etc. I use the say 10:00 med pass as my deadline, meaning it must be done prior to that! I am late if it isn't.

Now, I don't always get out on time....probably about 80% of the time...but considering I am still fairly new, I consider that to be pretty good.

Another good thing is checklists, I write out what needs to get done and cross it off after I ahe done it. It lets you forget about it so you aren't second guessing yourself. Good luck, and be patient.... it will all come back to ya. Also, remember that a sincere, "I am trying my very hardest to help you with that, however, right now I am unable to but I promise I will be there as soon as I possibly can" goes a long way. Sometimes just explaining that you need to help someone who is in pain right this minute but that you can get them their third blanket right after that is all they need to hear. (obviously not all the time though...hehehe)

Now, one question, why are the calls not being screened out so that the CNA's get the ice or blanket letting the nurses have time to administer the meds??? The phones should ring first to the CNA's then to the nurse...don't ya think?

allnurses Guide · Jul 24, 2003

Phones ringing to CNA's and nurses? Time clocks? Wow, you guys must live in the big city.

Here in rural Northern California, I write down on my time card when I get there and when I take lunch and when I leave.

And we have a light box over the nurse's station which lights up when a patient needs something and sometimes the buzzer actually works.

I agree with Deb and Ken and all the nurses who say get stuff done early. I get my assessments done and written quickly at the beginning of the shift by following the CNA's around when they do vitals. That way the patients are only bugged once (this is at 4 a.m. by the way). I try to have everything done by 5 a.m.

I rarely have to stay over.

steph

boggle, ASN, RN · Jul 24, 2003

Cheerfuldoer, your description of your typical day sounds so much like the shifts I work. Just change a few details and you have my floor.

There just is too much to do and too little time and too few hands to do it all with the "quality" of care we are asked by management to provide. I'm worried about basic safety, and keep hearing that I have to work more on customer satisfaction. UGH.

It didn't seem that long ago when a med/surg assignment of six patients was a pretty good assignment to me. Now I can't manage 5. The patients are just so sick! Seems we send them home so soon too, so I have to cram the patient teaching in in a hurry too.

I'm rambling here....you guys know the story. I'm just feeling frustrated.

No, I don't get out on time very often. Often I'm giving care every minute of my shift, right up to time to report to the next shift, and have barely begun my charting. Can't even sit through report without one of us getting up to handle the call lights.

I don't have any solutions here. I'm thinking I've reached my limit. I used to think I was a pretty good nurse, but by the standards expected of me now, I'm feeling pretty lousy.

Thank's all for giving me a forum to vent.