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?
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
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?
If I had already covered it, and it's written, how am I going to be in trouble?
Besides, this is not an issue w/me. It happened once or twice, and stopped. I guess I just got across that I was not hanging round for these shenanigans.
By the posts that I have seen, it it appears as though there may be a "system" problem there where you have decided to work. From my experience as a new grad, I know that my "emotions" are many times hanging on by a thread because there are so many personalities, new information and a lot of frustration. Working with other individuals that do not respect your time and your willingness to "get the day started" would be and is highly frustrating for me. Maybe the "team" or there lack of on that unit is not the right fit? Perhaps as you continue working there you may see other "problems" that are hard for you to ignore and maybe a place where you may decide is not right for you.
By the posts that I have seen, it it appears as though there may be a "system" problem there where you have decided to work. From my experience as a new grad, I know that my "emotions" are many times hanging on by a thread because there are so many personalities, new information and a lot of frustration. Working with other individuals that do not respect your time and your willingness to "get the day started" would be and is highly frustrating for me. Maybe the "team" or there lack of on that unit is not the right fit? Perhaps as you continue working there you may see other "problems" that are hard for you to ignore and maybe a place where you may decide is not right for you.
Good luck..
Thanks, you have hit the nail on the head! In addition.......my preceptor sometimes seems disgusted if I ask her a question when she is busy (and we are always busy) and is at times rude to me. I am going to have a heart to heart talk with her tomorrow night and ask her if she was forced to precept me. I am not going to make it in the ICU with her attitude. I am at the end of my rope...........
I didn't realize you had also written report. Still, I would be very careful to not let myself be accused, however wrongly, of not answering the questions of oncoming staff. I'm sure you are doing it right or they would have called you on it years ago. I'm more concerned that this new nurse might think she can just walk away from questions if staff are not paying attention to her.
Gee, I think 1-1 would be much simpler. All you have to do is get 1 person to listen up, not a whole group. Just grab her and say you need to leave and you need her to get report NOW. I know it's hard when you're new but you have to learn to be assertive sometime so this is a real opportunity for you to do that.
JCAHO is focusing on this whole report thing. We use written report where I work. VERY succinct but gives good basic info about the care of the pt. People still need to verbally report off and answer questions. It's just the way it needs to be.
Most of the time I just feel better if I have someone that I can ask a question to if it comes up. As long as nurses are aware that they need to be ready to give report and receive report at a certain time, most people start and get out on time and my facility.
I would find the shift Charge RN and tell them you need to give them report now since the incoming nurse isn't available. I bet it stops.
No it won't. Its a culture, that has grown out of this habit. I was late 5 minutes so consistently it bothered even me! I have really worked on getting out of my house on time, did quite well at being on time for several months, but lately have been slipping into old habits. Since I like making the assignments when I am in charge, I have to get there on time! We have quite a few chronically late people on both 7 AM and 7 PM change overs. Its basically accepted and tolerated, because they are really good nurses. If that is the only peeve on your floor, its not so bad. Frustrating, but not horrible, IMO.
Cultures can be changed, but not until you are a little more invested in the floor. I like what you thought about doing, asking if you can just take report on your own, if you are comfortable with it.
Others posters have pointed out that if this is the accepted culture then it will be difficult to change. The economics of the late report seem to be the best avenue of approach. Is the charge nurse position rotated among the staff? If everyone has to do charge this may break up the habit of people coming in late for report. Difficult and common prolem to solve. Peer pressure can work if it is only one or two nurses who are consistently late. If the practice is wide spread peer pressure is actually reinforcing the lateness.
just had this happen to me yesterday, the whole unit was too busy to tape report so we all gave verbal, I simply went to the nurse I was waiting on and told her I would be taping her report, I grabbed a recorder and started taping, I was almost finished when she decided to wander over to listen, then she started asking questions as I was trying to tape, I told her to wait while I finished taping, explained that I had already waited for her for 35 minutes and that now she would have to wait for me. She then apologized. I think you should probably wait until you are on your own, then you should stand up for yourself, that's part of how things start to change, when one person has had enough and says something. Good luck!
Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.
When I worked in the hospital, we had a taped report using the phone system. It was pretty cool, when the relief staff listened on time. We had to wait until they were done with report, on the off chance they had questions. So, I did a similar thing that Blue Eyes did.... If I couldn't record an addendum to my already taped report, I would write up the update & slip it to the nurse, along with a note to call my cell if they had any questions, as it was time for me to go home. I HATE when relief is late. It's one thing, if a fluke thing like unusually bad traffic b/c of weather or an accident, but damn.... eating breakfast while getting report & not listening?!?!? UGHGHGHGH
This is probably a problem everywhere, you have a few people that are chronically late. This was always a pet peeve of mine. I worked full time during my BSN education and it would cause me tons of stress when the 3-ll shift would come in late or come in, socialize, get coffee, etc., when I had to get out the door for another shift of class or clinical. Other people have child care issues and all kinds of reasons that they need to get out on time.
Now that I am done school and cut my hours back this is mostly just an inconsiderate inconvenience to me. It does irk me when I bust my hump all shift to get my work done, maybe not take lunch and then get out late for this kind of nonsense. I see it as part of my basic responsibility to be there, clocked in, with my butt in the chair and a pen in my hand by 7 a.m. Most days I leave myself enough time to get my drink, run my telem strips and look up my patient's labs before report. I also eat breakfast and have my coffee at home.
I see it in my own day shift. Even after report there are certain people that think that they are entitled to a breakfast break and cigarette before they can start their day while the rest of us answer bell and phones! Some people may never change but is up to management to enforce the work rules. Suggest to your manager in private that this is a problem, can it be included in staff meeting minutes? The chronic offenders should be reminded individually.
By the posts that I have seen, it it appears as though there may be a "system" problem there where you have decided to work. From my experience as a new grad, I know that my "emotions" are many times hanging on by a thread because there are so many personalities, new information and a lot of frustration. Working with other individuals that do not respect your time and your willingness to "get the day started" would be and is highly frustrating for me. Maybe the "team" or there lack of on that unit is not the right fit? Perhaps as you continue working there you may see other "problems" that are hard for you to ignore and maybe a place where you may decide is not right for you.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
If I had already covered it, and it's written, how am I going to be in trouble?
Besides, this is not an issue w/me. It happened once or twice, and stopped. I guess I just got across that I was not hanging round for these shenanigans.