tailwagger

I try not to give too much information. I am friendly but really like to do my assessments & pass meds then get out of the room without adding too much unnecessary chit chat about myself or similar situations. It can really put you behind schedule when assigned to numerous patients. The other thing is that you really do not know this person. What can you trust them with? I will answer certain questions to patients about my children when asked but I will never give my childrens names, the town we live in or their school district. Most of the time I change the subject. I also find that it's more therapeutic for the patients if they talk about their lives instead of hearing about someone elses. Otherwise you're better off talking about the weather, TV programs or sports with them if you are chatting.

I work both 8 & 12 hour night shifts also on a med surg & oncology unit. If I work 8 hours I am required to do one assessment, if I work 12 I am required to do two assessments. For the second assessment if nothing has changed there is the option to choose "assessment unchanged" for each area such as neuro, cardiac, etc. 4 hours shifts also have to do 1 assessment. The same rule applies for daylight shifts.