omg I forgot to give report!

[kellicutshair]

Hey fellow nurses,

So I am a new grad RN working night shift. I just came off orientation and am 3 weeks into being on my own. I feel like I am doing a great job, with the usual struggles of a new grad such as time management, which I am getting better at every shift. Of course, adjusting to night shift is a challenge, but as far as night shift itself, I love nights. The pace is more relaxed although still busy and I appreciate my amazing team of nurses who are so supportive and helpful. I have been embraced at my job; my girls rock. The other night was incredibly draining. (edit per OP request) In any case, there was miscommunication, but it got resolved. Meanwhile, I had 2 patients that were extremely demanding and I was bending over backwards all night trying to please them, which I did successfully. Near the end of my shift, I had an admit on the other side. I was running back and forth with no CNA and next thing I knew, it was shift change. I had 4 different nurses to give report to. I gave report to 3 of the nurses, did hand off, and left, utterly exhausted and desperate to sleep. On my way home, I had the sudden realization that I forgot to give report on my admit!! I called my unit, and gave report via phone. The nurse was very nice. I am so horrified that I did this! I actually lost sleep over it. Has anyone ever done this? I can tell you this: I will NEVER do this again, that is for sure.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I did it once as a midwife, not a floor nurse. I had forgotten about one patient in triage I knew was there and knew a little bit about, but hadn't seen myself yet. The job was insanely busy and I was barely keeping my head above water as a new grad. I did the same and called the floor, the night midwife laughed it off and said, "It's ok, we found her." I felt awful too. As long as you did end up calling report, cut yourself some slack, and know that you will never do that again! Also, good pickup with the 35 weeker---I'm surprised your protocols for late preterm babies don't already include glucose checks.

[kellicutshair]

Thank you!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

It is not a good idea to give unique details about the a patient's condition on a public forum, as they may make it possible for colleagues or patients or family (in this case the baby's mom) to identify you. If you want to edit some of the details, you can click on the caution button in the bottom of your posts and ask a moderator to help you.

[kellicutshair]

Thank you. Edit complete.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I did this once too. No permanent damage done and it never happened again. You are not alone. Sometimes what we do is just a bit brutal on the mind and body.

[Sour Lemon]

I once forgot about one of my patients for seven hours. I got report on eight patients, but one left shortly after change of shift. The discharge was in a double room, by the door, with the divider curtain pulled so that it was hiding the further-away placed bed.

After giving all my meds, doing my dressings, etc., I sat down to chart at 2AM and realized I was missing a patient. It was the one from the discharged room on the other side of the curtain. Luckily, she was fine ...but yikes! Every time I passed her room or looked at her report sheet, I thought, "Oh, she's gone."

[cleback]

I could definitely see myself doing that, especially after a night shift. I physically cross off the patient one by one after report. So far it's worked as far as I'm aware lol...

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I did it once. The nurse I was supposed to give report to was one that was notoriously late. When I realized on my way to the train that I had forgotten to give report, I called the floor and whaddya know? She hadn't arrived yet.

[NurseCard, ADN]

Oh lord, it's the stuff of nightmares! Seriously, I have nightmares where I've gone a whole night without so much as looking at a certain patient... or two, or three, or heck my whole load.

I once forgot about one of my patients for seven hours. I got report on eight patients, but one left shortly after change of shift. The discharge was in a double room, by the door, with the divider curtain pulled so that it was hiding the further-away placed bed.

After giving all my meds, doing my dressings, etc., I sat down to chart at 2AM and realized I was missing a patient. It was the one from the discharged room on the other side of the curtain. Luckily, she was fine ...but yikes! Every time I passed her room or looked at her report sheet, I thought, "Oh, she's gone."

[Ben_Dover]

For some reason I just had this big LOL when I read the subject heading! Who on earth forgets to give report... can you imagine if the Sweet Mother of Hairless Baby Jessie forgets to give report. What's to become of this world!!!

But don't sweat it too much! Old and New Nurses and the likes has had their shares for leaving the unit without giving reports! LOL

But seriously, who does this?!?!

Sorry... can't help it! I just find this totally comical!

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I was on the 7p-7a shift. Because of the way two schedules backed up to each other I ended up working 6 12 hour shifts in a row. My manager felt terrible about it, so she put me in charge for the whole stretch to try and make it a bit easier. We didn't normally take patients in charge. The last night of this stretch we were a bit short staffed. One of the nurses that worked 3p-11p agreed to stay until 3a to help us out. At 3a I picked up one of her patients. He was the only patient I had that week and he was easy peasy. Walkie talkie. No interventions needed. Going home the next morning. I peaked in on him twice but otherwise just let him sleep.

In the morning I went in the office area where the charge nurses have report, banged out report on the unit from memory at the point, and left, thankful that stretch was over finally! It was on the drive home I realized I forgot to give report on Mr. Easy Peasy. As soon as I got home I called the unit to give report over the phone but it turned out I was too late. He was already discharged!