new orders at end of shift

Katnip, RN · Dec 19, 2007

For us, it's understood if anything, including and admission comes in less than 1/2 before the next shift is due in, it belongs to the next shift. All shifts have that understanding.

That said, if it's just an order or two, I'll do them. I'll start the vitals and stuff for an admission, but I won't do the whole thing since ours take at least an hour per person to do.

meandragonbrett · Dec 19, 2007

If it's for a med that you can pull from the vending machine and give or if it's some labs then it falls on your shift. But if they write for a stat CT or some other crazy stuff at 0645 i'm not going to do it. Minor orders that can be done easily and quickly I'll do.

Burnt Out, ASN, RN · Dec 19, 2007

If it is an order for a now or stat med or labs, I will go ahead and do it before I leave. But if it is routine labs or a new med order, I leave it for the next shift.

SunbabiLPN · Dec 19, 2007

It depends on how I feel and how my night went. If I am exhausted and I just cant do one more thing I will tell the oncoming nurse. If I still have energy left I will do them. If it's something important I will also do them.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 19, 2007

I think it is a case of using common sense and look at time and if can't be done left for other shift with understanding may happen to you. In all the wards I have worked in we have done this with no problems and everyone knew that as how things worked

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Dec 19, 2007

If it's for a med that you can pull from the vending machine and give or if it's some labs then it falls on your shift. But if they write for a stat CT or some other crazy stuff at 0645 i'm not going to do it. Minor orders that can be done easily and quickly I'll do.

I may be missing something, but I would think that if a stat order came in, I'd at least make sure it got noted and faxed (or whatever your procedure is). If it is some sort of treatment or dressing change or something like that, then no, it would have to wait if it came in any time after 0630, would be my understanding.

meandragonbrett · Dec 19, 2007

I may be missing something, but I would think that if a stat order came in, I'd at least make sure it got noted and faxed (or whatever your procedure is). If it is some sort of treatment or dressing change or something like that, then no, it would have to wait if it came in any time after 0630, would be my understanding.

Yeah. That's what I meant.

suanna · Dec 19, 2007

Almost without exception I leave the orders for the next shift. We do a mandatory order review at each change of shift so new orders aren't missed. I'm not lazy but for most orders it's the next nurse that will be seeing the impact of any changes. I don't want to give a new med and not be around to monitor how it has effected my patient. I don't want to order a CT scan that someone else has to orchestrate-I don't know thier organizational plan for the day. If it is a STAT order that is a different story. The doc is most likely standing there waiting to see the outcome; but routine orders in the last 30min of my shift are best carried out by the nurse in charge of the patient for the next 12hrs.

joprasklpn · Dec 19, 2007

I personally would take care of the orders before leaving if it was important and not like ten of three.

Dempather, RN · Dec 19, 2007

Hmm... well, at my hospital, all the orders come up on the computer. To show that we've read the order, we have to click "acknowledge". If I can't do it, I don't acknowledge it and the next nurse picks it up.

Given a normal night and with the charting I need to do after my shift is done, I can't just keep picking up orders. By my standards, any admission that comes up after 7:30pm is the next shift's responsibility (and in return, I expect to pick up admissions in the morning that come up after 7:30am).

We're only human, if we can't get something done and really show that we're putting in the effort all around, who can complain (and if they still do, well.. that's their problem).

On a side note... I once ordered blood to come up for the nurse on the next shift. By the time she got on, she had already prioritized her first hour (and giving that blood wasn't top priority). So now.. she has blood coming up, which, by our hospital's rules needs to be given within twenty minutes of arrival to the floor and she needs to put that first. She wasn't angry, but I agree with what Suanna says. Use the rationale to do things you can follow-up with.

bradleyshanetaylor · Dec 20, 2007

normally depends on the situation. if the next shift is a lil short staffed, i will do as much as i can and help out will report is going on. but if they are staffed better than my shift, i just put any orders into the computer and then let the next shift carry out any of the procedures.