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.
Having to give report to 4 nurses is raising my hackles a bit. Why on earth did the person making assignments for the next shift not make the assignments so it was nurse to nurse on all the patients or two nurses max? Having to give report to 4 people is fragmented and makes report take much longer and therefore it is much easier to make a mistake during report or omit something.
As a charge nurse I would have avoided that kind of assignment.
Has anyone ever done this? I can tell you this: I will NEVER do this again, that is for sure.
Nope, I've never done that.
I did once discharge a patient home with an intact IV.
Her caregiver called and said, "What are we supposed to do with this thing?"
Be kind to yourself, young Padawan... and truth is, there's not all that much that comes from report that can't be readily discerned by an experienced nurse in a few minutes of chart review and a quick focused assessment.
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.
Hi! After the epiphany, in the car ride home, I called & gave report & apology to peeved nurse. Not an iota of harm to patient, but the experience seared its place into my practice ever after.
This happened to me recently. I came into work and realized at 7:45 that I had not gotten report on my final patient. I figured the RN had been held up giving a lengthy report somewhere else, but he had forgotten me and gone home. I didn't care at all and was not mad at him when he called me that afternoon to apologize profusely. I read the notes, glanced over the vitals, and assessed him. It was really fine. To be fair, the patient was perfectly stable, so of course that makes a difference :)
Ha! I have had identical dreams! Or maybe more like night terrors. I've both forgotten to give report and had the preceeding nurse forget to give me report. Usually it was not a problem and I read the record. Sometimes if I had a question I called them. NEVER did I use the omission to create problems. Rule No. 1: Always Be Kind.
I've been lucky and never in 15 years had this happen but I can see how after a rough shift it could absolutely happen. This is a rookie error and the nurse assuming care has as much of a responsibility to get report from you as you did giving it. And guess what? The world is still spinning, no harm no foul! Welcome to the crazy world of nursing and thanks for sharing and for the giggle. Keep on keeping on!! :)
Specializes in Adult Critical Care, Cardiothoracic Surgery.
I forgot to give report to dayshift on my first rapid response in the ICU, which we got right before shift change...the charge nurse had to stay over and give it for me! I didn't even realize it. I got an earful when I came back that night...
Ellie G
186 Posts
Having to give report to 4 nurses is raising my hackles a bit. Why on earth did the person making assignments for the next shift not make the assignments so it was nurse to nurse on all the patients or two nurses max? Having to give report to 4 people is fragmented and makes report take much longer and therefore it is much easier to make a mistake during report or omit something.
As a charge nurse I would have avoided that kind of assignment.