Nurses not prepared for report

BonnieSc · Sep 1, 2014

IF I get to work 20-30 minutes early, then I'll spend time checking in on CC, PMH, diagnostic testing, labs, etc. However, if I'm running behind, clock in right at 0700, and only have a few seconds to grab sheets of paper for report, then that's *my* fault. I don't make the off-going nurse pay for that error in time management. If I don't have a spare second to look up prior information of 5 med/surg patients, then I'll just have to get the information I need after the off-going RN has given me his/her assessment and what he/she knows. I shut my mouth, listen to their report, ask questions if it's necessary, and fill in the gaps on my own time.
And in doing this, I expect the same in return. So what's frustrating is when nurses that see me do this when I'm running late don't extend the same courtesy to me. I've gotten off report sometimes up to a half an hour late as a result of these types of nurses clocking in RIGHT at shift change and using 15 minutes of the 30 minute report window pre-collecting data.

NOT coming in early is "an error in time management"? Hell to the no. if anything--and I wouldn't actually go this far--isn't needing to come in half an hour early for a shift "an error in time management"? I'm unashamedly one of these nurses who clocks in right at shift change. I clock in and I'm ready to go. My free time is valuable to me. I respect that some people need a few minutes to get into "work mode" and will come a few minutes early to feel ready, but there should be no reason to come in 30 minutes early and personally, I don't think management should allow it (some of my managers haven't, whether the workers are clocking in early or not--you're not supposed to be doing work, which includes reading charts, unless you're on the clock).

Now, there's no excuse for nurses not being ready to take report right at shift change. If you're getting out late because they aren't ready, I would think management would care about that because of having to pay you overtime. That's always been the main reason for lectures on "reforming report" anywhere I've worked--streamlining it in order to get everyone out on time.

Incidentally, the hospital I'm working at now as a traveler doesn't pre-assign the patients to the next shift--a new one for me. I don't really like it because we spend some time at the beginning deciding on the assignment together, which can be tiresome, but NO ONE gets there early to start reading charts and making notes, because they don't know what patients they have! (And yes, everyone manages to learn their patients and provide good care.)

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 1, 2014

As a charge nurse, I am often finding myself needing to use a computer at the main nurse's station to look something up, print off a report or write a brief note . . . but as of 6:30, the newbies of the next shift have taken over ALL of the computers (even the one with my coffee, jacket and bag plopped right there) to pre-collect data. There are plenty of computers on the unit that can be used, they don't have to use the charge computer where it's hardwired to print off my assignment sheets, transfer sheets, OR sheets, etc. right there. But they use it anyway instead of dispersing . . . . I'm grateful at least that they aren't hogging computers nurses need to finalize their charting, etc. But they take over MY computer, too, and force me to print from another computer on the far side of the unit and miss the manager and supervisor when they come by looking for me. Or else I boot them off my computer and have to deal with the attitude.

It's rude to take over the computers that the previous shift needs to complete their work, and it's poor time management to plan to do so.

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2014

Shouldn't there be a policy about how report should done? The process should be as streamlined as possible without needing anyone to clock in early.

At my facility we have SBAR type report sheets filled out by the night shift with the information that would be found on the Kardex, so the information is in front of us as report is being given. As changes occur during day shift, we add to and update the report sheet and give it to the next shift with all our notes so they know what occurred during the shift. There is a new sheet everyday and we just staple the old ones with the new ones so we have all the sheets from the previous days available and can easily look up notes and changes from the previous days.

RNlmk · Sep 4, 2014

I think report protocol varies depending on facility. I have never seen a Kardex! On my floor you are expected to take report immediately at 7a/p. some nurses come in early and look up pt info, some don't. Either way it is expected that you give the full rundown in handoff report. Giving report this way on 6 patients typically takes 20-30mins. It's unfair to expect nurses to come in early & unpaid- so unless you want to wait 15 minutes past shift change to start report? I don't think your new grads are doing anything wrong...

greenerpastures · Oct 2, 2014

We use SBARs at our facility, but that doesn't necessarily mean you are going to get them before report. Some nurses are still filling them out at 0700/1900 even though they are supposed to be turned in an hour before shift change to give the secretaries time to copy them for the next shift. I actually had someone try to hand me a paper towel with info on it as report from a pt who had been there for 5 hours - I politely declined and made the person read it to me. As far as not being prepared for report, I try to subtly prompt people along by asking several general questions to get the ball rolling, then turn to the pt to verify the name/DOB - usually that given the other nurse enough time to dig through their papers to look for the answer. I do get "annoyed" when the same person is not prepared several days in a row or most of the time. I understand not being prepared once and a while, but report happens at the same time each day, learn to watch the clock and budget your time!