On my floor there are two cart nurses who pass medications, do treatments, chart, and manage the CNA's. Then there is a charge nurse who handles admits/discharges, calling the Dr, family members, etc.
I get report, start my day, finish my day... and give report to the 3rd shift nurse. On 3rd shift there is no cart nurse and charge nurse... so the 3rd shift nurse gets report from both. I'll listen in to report from the charge nurse and he will report on my patients things I never even knew... shouldn't I know these things? I know he is handling their results, calling the Dr.... etcetcetc... but shouldn't I still know Mr. soandso is getting labs done bc I reported he was having muscle spasms in his leg? So that if anything I can let Mr. soandso know they are doing something for him (I always try to keep my patients informed... no one else seems to). I just feel out of the loop on a lot of information & it makes me feel like I am just there to pass medicine while he actually monitors/does things for these patients. How am I suppose to monitor my patients for signs of things if I don't even know whats going on?
Like charge nurse will go on lunch.... so phone calls about my patients will then get forwarded to me (if the charge nurse on the other unit is too busy) and I will have people call in with lab results for my patient or a Dr. wanting them.... and I didn't even know that my patient had labs drawn or why...
It might be just that. Maybe they just want you to focus on the basics of med pass and treatments?
I've worked as the "cart nurse", unit super and house RN. The only way that all of these nurses are able to work together to get the job done is by communicating with each other.
I would get report from the day nurse, then ask the unit super and then the house super if there is any issue you need to know about or deal with. That way you will be up on things. Might take a few minutes but it will get you the info you want/ may need.
CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN
3,734 Posts
It might be just that. Maybe they just want you to focus on the basics of med pass and treatments?
I've worked as the "cart nurse", unit super and house RN. The only way that all of these nurses are able to work together to get the job done is by communicating with each other.
I would get report from the day nurse, then ask the unit super and then the house super if there is any issue you need to know about or deal with. That way you will be up on things. Might take a few minutes but it will get you the info you want/ may need.