Report peeves

KR · Sep 9, 2008

Put the highlighters down. There is absolutely no reason why your report sheet, which comes off of the computer and has been the same format for a decade, must be colored in in five different pretty colors before you can begin talking to me...if you don't know where to look for listed allergies, diagnosis, etc. after this long, you don't have the critical thinking skills to be a nurse.
And don't spend the first fifteen minutes of your shift getting coffee and gossipping while I'm waiting to give you report.

And don't start of my report with, "this patient is a train-wreck" or "This patient and/or family is crazy" or "you're in for a rough day or night"

I think ya both must be working with the same people I have worked with in the past! :banghead:

RN1982 · Sep 9, 2008

Put the highlighters down. There is absolutely no reason why your report sheet, which comes off of the computer and has been the same format for a decade, must be colored in in five different pretty colors before you can begin talking to me...if you don't know where to look for listed allergies, diagnosis, etc. after this long, you don't have the critical thinking skills to be a nurse.
And don't spend the first fifteen minutes of your shift getting coffee and gossipping while I'm waiting to give you report.

Are you serious? Do they think they are nurses or 5 year olds trying to color in the line?

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2008

I hate when I get interrupted about a issue I JUST mentioned or a test, etc...and I'm going..."I'm getting to that in just a moment..."

I'm all for grace, but when you're just sitting and I'm ready, or you're having a conversation about your night or weekend...ARRGGH, let me get report so I can start!

Also, do not wait to give your 4PM meds at 4:55...it still takes a few minutes to give em, then I'm behind waiting for you....

StealthyQ · Sep 9, 2008

-Please, PLEASE know how much fluid you gave this septic old lady. It's even better if you actually write it down.

-If a pt has been upgraded to the ICU/CCU (I'm in the ER), please have an idea why.

-If it's been crazy and you haven't gotten around to something, I'll understand, really I will. But please ask me to start that heparin drip, because an hour after you are gone the doctor will ask me if it was ever started, and I will say "What??" and be regarded as an idiot thereafter.

-Please be on time to work. Please don't get there, say "gimme just a sec" and proceed to the lounge for fifteen minutes to gab and put on eyeshadow. If you want to do those things, get there fifteen minutes early.

D&Ggirl · Sep 9, 2008

what drives me crazy is when i come on at 1900, the day nurses want to give report at 1901, no later, but when they come on at 0700, they have to get their coffee, mingle in the board room....dont come out until 0705 at the absolute earliest. Plus im usually tracking people down trying to give them report because they are off talking with nurses about what they did that weekend, etc. if you want report that fast what makes you think i dont?! grrrrr

uscstu4lfe · Sep 9, 2008

after working for 13-14 hours, i'm just plain tired. i tend to draw blanks during report if it isn't written down. honestly, my reports are very straight to the point and concise. we are done in a few minutes. this is either a pet peeve or a positive to other nurses... some love it, some hate it. there's this one nurse that demands all kinds of information, heights, weights, lab values, etc etc etc. SHE TAKES FOREVER TO GIVE REPORT TO. this is a huge pet peeve to me. we are a med surg floor, so usually that kind of information isn't as important. oddly enough, when she gives report it's very vague and not impressive. we all make jokes about this :)

Ms.RN · Sep 9, 2008

please, please, for the love of pete....spit out your gum!!!!!! if i want to hear snap, crackle and pop in the morning, i'll eat rice krispies.
i literally could not continue my day until that was off my chest....

i dont know whats the matter with this nurses but some nurses i work with think they can finish their work and one hour after begining of the shift they can count narcotics and give report!!!!! do they have no sense of time or are there something wrong with their head????? :scrm::scrm::flmngmd::anbd::anbd::anbd:

imanedrn · Sep 10, 2008

i hate when i get interrupted about a issue i just mentioned or a test, etc...and i'm going..."i'm getting to that in just a moment..."

yeah, that one always irks me. i have a special flow for report. i give a full assessment then go over procedures, orders, etc. let me do it my way when i am giving report!

too bad the people who need to read this aren't! :trout:

hikernurse · Sep 10, 2008

please, please, for the love of pete....spit out your gum!!!!!! if i want to hear snap, crackle and pop in the morning, i'll eat rice krispies.
i literally could not continue my day until that was off my chest....

if i somehow don't make it to heaven when i die and end up somewhere else, i'm sure it will be full of the snap-crackle-and-poppers. :no: :no: :no:

hikernurse · Sep 10, 2008

I think report can be a tense time for all concerned. Those coming on are stressed because maybe they either just fed a quick dinner to their family, if they work nights, and rushed off, and probably didn't get enough sleep. If the oncoming nurse works days, then she/he might have rushed out the door, after having pressed the snooze button one too many times, after rushing to get the kids up and off to daycare, dragging them out of bed at the crack of dawn.
The offgoing nurse is just plain tired from working 12 hours, and sometimes can't even think straight anymore. It's no wonder that report is often a source of irritation for many.
I'm a firm believer in giving one another maximum grace at report time.

I know I don't make much sense after working 12 hours. If my brain somehow pulls it together, no way do the words make their way down to my mouth.

As far as my pet peeve, it would be the drifters. I've been working 12+ hours and the person I'm supposed to be giving report to is off somewhere talking. There's one nurse who spends a good 20 minutes drifting from room to room before she finally makes it in. I'll see her walk by, but she's so out of reach...sigh.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

Everyone has a different communication style, this leads to some of these problems. Also, some people are auditory and some are visual in they way the best process information, and many a combo of both.

For instance, I have difficulty with auditory processing. So, sometimes my mind will wander slightly. It's better if I have a visual aide in front of me.

Luv2BAnurse · Sep 10, 2008

I snap crackle and pop at home. Drives my husband crazy and he holds his hand out for my gum then throws it away. I at least don't go out in "public" doing that.

I don't like listening to co-workers when they think aloud...especially if they do that with every single thought! gah!