I would like to take a survey of sorts. This week was my first working with a preceptor in MICU. My shift starts at 11:30 AM and ends at midnight. Without fail, every shift this week, the 11:30 PM to noon shift comes in late, sits in the break room till almost midnight and THEN they come out for report. They are supposed to be relieving me at 11:30 PM so I can be out the door at midnight.
I am a new grad and don't dare say anything yet, but I think this behaviour is rude and inconsiderate. Is this behavior common in the places you all work? I sure don't appreciate being kept waiting to give report so I can leave after 12 hours of work.
What's your take? Am I too sensitive? Should I not rock the boat yet?
There were a couple day shift nurses pulling this stuff on me some time back. It got so I would be sitting there, at 7:20 watching them get their coffee, water whatever, after they had just shown up, leaving me waiting to give report, and fuming.
It got so I just wrote out report on their report sheets for their individual patient assignments, and when they would breeze in at 7:15 or 7:20 or whenever---- I would shove that sheet at them and give them a quick blurb on each one and at 7:30, say "I am out of here, you are on my time now", with a smile and a wave. I strongly dislike it when people always show up late. It's rude; it's a passive-aggressive thing to do, frankly.
No lectures from our manager did the trick, but my move did. They know when they follow me, show up on time or get a very short, terse report from me. I have the right to leave on time when I am prepared to---if they cannot show up on time, that is their problem.
You know on my ward the day staff walk in late with their breakfast and eat it whilst you are trying to give report, one nurse has eggs and pancakes etc. I just couldnt believe it the first time I saw it. Then inbetween mouthfuls of food ask questions because they weren't listening
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Let them----give em a quick down and dirty report and written sheet and be done with it. YOUR time is as important as theirs. If they ask questions you covered, say "I covered that already, sorry you were not listening" and march on.
I would wait patiently until they were good and ready to receive report from me. I would give it and whenever I ran past my scheduled shift I would claim overtime. When someone came to ask me about my overtime I would explain why I was being forced to work late.
:yeahthat: Yes ..this does work. I have seen this work. Most managers are interested in that "OT" part of the budget.
I would ask the manager about it as he/she is paying you overtime while the relief crew is chatting. That would be enough for me to get involved, as a manager.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I am in no way interested in using OT just to cover report. And it's a waste of money to do so..(my manager would take issue with this for sure).....
No, I am OUT at 0730, period, unless the shift/busy-ness of it justifies it----if I am needed, that is another story, say for change of shift csection---but I sure am not going to stay and claim "OT" so someone can brew her perfect espresso to drink, or eat her breakfast, or gossip, delaying report. Noper.
I can't believe management doesn't do anything. Odd for me because where I work if you are just 2 mins. late clocking in 2x in a pay period, you are written up, and if they notice a pattern or a problem, it's grounds for termination after enough times. If you are not ready and accounted for at report, you are written up. They take OT VERY seriously there and do not tolerate it one bit, therefore managment's stance is report starts on time every time.
Well, tomorrow I work again. I already know my preceptor will be late since she never has been on time yet. I have 3 choices of what to do.
1. Take report on our two patients myself and be done with it.
2. Help other nurses that are up to their elbows till she shows up and take the chance I don't even see her come in and therefore miss my own report. (This is what I have been doing and it doesn't work out too well.)
3. Sit in the breakroom and mess around with my PDA till she shows up and we get report together.
I think I will try option 3 tomorrow. I will ask her during the shift if she minds if I just get report at the normal time from now on by myself, (since she is always late.)
I will deal with the midnight shift coming in late for report from me when I am off orientation. I do like the writing it down on a piece of paper idea. I can just take it to the breakroom, hand it to whoever is getting report, and say any questions on my way out!
It helps to know I am not alone in dislking people who are chronically late for report. Thanks guys and gals!
I think you should go up to the charge nurse of the oncoming shift and say you are going to start report now, could she please get the group into the report room now, you're really bushed, you need to get off on time. Be nice about it, of course, maybe say it all in an apologetic way. But say it. And whether your preceptor is late or not isn't really the issue. Why does the unit manager let this stuff go on?
Start your career on the right foot, Hoozdo. Do what you know is right and don't worry about hurting their feelings or making them dislike you. They might but they might also res pect you.
Smiling Blue Eyes - there is a legal problem with not answering questions from oncoming staff. You are legally bound to give them report. Not answering could come back to haunt you. I understand why you do what you do but I wonder, if the patient had a problem, would you be liable?
I think you should go up to the charge nurse of the oncoming shift and say you are going to start report now, could she please get the group into the report room now, you're really bushed, you need to get off on time. Be nice about it, of course, maybe say it all in an apologetic way. But say it. And whether your preceptor is late or not isn't really the issue. Why does the unit manager let this stuff go on?
There is one on one report because it is ICU. There is no group report. To further complicate matters, we have 4 different shifts - traditiona 7 - 7s, and the 11:30 - midnight and reverse. The unit manager does not seem to be too involved in the day to day operations of the unit. He also manages another unit.
Easy solution...TAPE REPORT!!! I've worked nights and I like getting out on time. If there late, I don't care b/c I've given them my taped report and small sheet with any updates since I've taped. They walk in the door, hand them the tape and your on your way.
I still hang around til my shift is over, but I'm out at 7:15am. I do check with the oncoming nurse and ask if they have any questions b/c I'm leaving.
madwife2002, BSN, RN
26 Articles; 4,777 Posts
You know on my ward the day staff walk in late with their breakfast and eat it whilst you are trying to give report, one nurse has eggs and pancakes etc. I just couldnt believe it the first time I saw it. Then inbetween mouthfuls of food ask questions because they weren't listening