Sample routine of typical day for new nurse

Thanks for posting. The tips were good, but unfortunately, my days don't go that smoothly... and we hardly get discharges and admissions at exactly 1000! I've gotten admits as late as 1830 on my shift! I almost always chart as I go (I have a computer on wheels AKA COW... and I chart my assessments as I go from room to room in the morning) but it is still so easy to get behind and not get out at 1900. It seems that something ALWAYS goes wrong at change of shift to put me behind.

We're not allowed to pull meds that early...and especially not allowed to place them in patient drawers, labeled or not.

That was a great piece to obviously take what you can from. Here is what I do, night shift-8 months in to this profession!

1845 Arrive to work

1915: Assignments are out. Grab report sheets and find nurses for report.

1945: See pt's, get vitals, sign mars, make mental notes of what to grab for 2100 med pass- fluids, tpn, tf, depends, etc.

2100: Pass all meds for 2100 & 2200

2200 Chart

2300 cbgs, q4 vitals

0000: Mars, chart check.

0100: turns, pain meds.

0200: eat for 3 minutes, pager going off constantly

0300: q4 vitals, assessments clean up rooms, night baths, turns

0400: Chart, "No changes from 2100 assessment" hopefully..

0500: pain meds, lab draws, report sheets, turns

0600: pain meds, final clean-ups turns, help other people

0700: hunt down nurses to give report to

0800: Get kids off to school

0830: Food,glass of wine

1500: Wake up in a stupor to do it all again!

What about you guys??

Here is a sample of my day. I work 3-11p in a small hospital, usually 3 nurses total, two on the floor and 1 in the ER. Admits can come at any time during the shift, and of course, they usually show up at med pass or shift change...fun. I just celebrated 1 year in the nursing profession a few weeks ago!

1445:arrive at work, get report sheets, fill in the census (names) and wait for report

1500: report, lasts about 45-60 min, depending on how many pts there are, assignments made after report.

1600: fly around getting any vitals needed, pull meds and give

1630: accuchecks

1700: hopefully have time to get some charting done

1800: med pass, again, may have time to grab something to eat (MAYBE)

1900: chart some more

2000: med pass

2100:breathe (usually)

2200: may have a med pass

2300: give report to oncoming shift

2400: Leave!!

That looks simple, but usually, I am always busy. Talking to doctors, noting orders and giving PRN's in the meantime. Time goes by fast!

1830: arrive at work, get census

1900: listen to ALL reports...urggg

1930: do assessments, vital signs...depending on how many patients I have it usually takes me 45 minutes to an hour

2000: pull all 2100 meds and chart until time to give

2100: give all 2100 meds and do finger sticks and pull 2200 meds

2200: give 2200 meds

2300: chart checks

0000: vital signs

0100: take a break and get a bite to eat

0200: fill the rooms up with new IV bags so when the one hanging gets done all the day shift has to do is change it

0300: restock everything

0400: vital signs

0500: get 0600 meds together

0600: gather IandOs, daily weights, give meds

0700: give report and go home to sleep