Shift change rant

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It never fails. Shift change is at 6am. No one wants my halls even though it's assigned. 6:15 comes and goes, no relief. Sometimes it's 6:30, time for me to clock out, and no relief. It's not because they arent there, it's because they are at the main nursing station gossiping. I'm tired and want to go home. Any suggestions on how to light a fire under them?

Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

I've tried the same, I reach early to relieve others but they are always late to get report...results, give them a hurried report and have them look up the rest themselves. I got family to get home to. I never sit at the nursing station, not during my shift and especially not at shift change. To light a fire you really have to bring it up with management let them mention it at a meeting...they will despise you but if you anonymous it may get results. I'm still a newbie on the job so I'm playing it cool for now as long as I get paid.

I did try to "walk up to nurse method" she balked at me talking about she still got 5 mins to look up her people...but she was just gossiping with other nurses. Next time I had her, she was charge and she totally forgot to give report on a pt to me, because I stopped hunting down people during shift change. The new charge ended up calling her back.

Its totally unprofessional for people not to be on time and just give the darn report then gossip after. Heck most of the times I listen to others give report they are yapping their traps about nothing to do with the patient. Its annoying and so unprofessional. Right now its the number 1 reason I beginning to dislike bedside nursing.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I second the written report. Next time nurse Sally isn't on time to get report tell her that you're ready for report as usual and really do value getting out on time. If she's blabbing to her coworkers wait no more than 5 minutes. When she comes after waiting for 5 minutes tell her that you may have to start writing out report for her if she's talking instead of being ready for report. If this happens again give her the written report (have it ready). If she protests tell her that you gave her the chance to show that she was serious about getting report on time but she did not show that this was important to her. You may not have a problem the next day. She may be ready within 5 minutes of shift change. If not you can continue with written report. However if she is protesting or this isn't something you're OK with doing every shift, go to management.

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Specializes in Med Surg.
It never fails. Shift change is at 6am. No one wants my halls even though it's assigned. 6:15 comes and goes, no relief. Sometimes it's 6:30, time for me to clock out, and no relief. It's not because they arent there, it's because they are at the main nursing station gossiping. I'm tired and want to go home. Any suggestions on how to light a fire under them?

Yep. Bedside report. But those coworkers hanging out chatting at the desk? Yeah...they will rail against it like they were just required to wear black hot pants and fishnets every day.

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I would just approach them like everyone has suggested. If you're afraid of potential confrontation, just bring it to your manager. That's what they are there for.

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