Keep forgetting my labs!

[SoundofMusic]

We are switching over to a new scanning system in our hospital, and now labs are all done through these handheld machines. Our techs are usually helpful and can get their labs done, but lately, some of them are getting frustrated and can't seem to get the labs done on time. last shift I also forgot to get an am lab done, and it was a nurse draw. I was so embarrassed passing those labs to the a.m. shift. As a new nurse, how bad is this sin in relation to the many others that we can committ occassionally as nurses passing work to the next shifts?

[organichombre, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

There is nothing wrong with passing work on to the next shift if you are indeed too busy, a new nurse and it does not become a habit. Learn to prioritize among your other duties and remember that you are never working alone...holler real loud and I guarantee someone will help out! Peace out and hang in there!

[adorblepuppy]

I agree, always remember you are not alone. I am not a rn nor do i want to be. But i could not imagine the level of responibility you guys have. I am really only speaking from life experiences. Don't be afraid to ask for help. That is what others are there for. I am sure they will be times when someone will ask you for help also. Doesn't matter if you are new at nursing or old.

[rhondaa83]

I am a new nurse, and also feel bad when I leave things for the next shift. I feel like I am not doing my job properly. Zip ahead to 7 months as a nurse now, and I do not feel bad about passing things off. I get busy from 3-11. The night shift has many more opportunities to get things done, and they are always very understanding and happpy to help.

[mpccrn, BSN, RN]

setting priorities in caring for a patient is what we have to do each and every day. forgetting labs can have different meanings in different circumstances....routine labs? not a problem, a couple of hours shouldn't make that big a difference. hgb in an active gi bleed? troponin in an active mi? .....these are time sensitive and do make a difference in the care of a patient. it's good to want to make sure everything that should be done on your shift is done (and most of the time we manage somehow to make that happen!) but the truth of the matter is nursing is a 24 hour a day job. the best we can do is set the priorities of the shift, get it done according to critical sensitvities and pass on what is left over.

[freedom22]

Where I work, not getting AM labs done is looked at really badly. In terms of prioritization, this is high up there.

The reason is because our doctors round between 6-7am and that's when they develop the plan for each pt for the day. If the AM labs are not yet available, they cant definitely decide to discharge a pt. and they also have to remember to go back later to check labs and order electrolyte repletion. They often forget to go back and review labs and the dayshift has to bug them all day untill they finally place appropriate orders.

If you develop a habit of helping your coworkers, they will help you as well. When I worked nights and I was really busy, I would simply ask one of my colleagues to draw labs for me. In turn, when I had free time I would insert an IV on their pt....

Hope this helps. Being a new nurse is not easy.