tell about your typical day?

jschut, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2003

Originally posted by blueskydreamer
Hello. I am interested in becoming a nurse and was wondering if anyone would be willing to describe their typical workday. Just like, tasks you perform, how many patients you tend to, good and bad things about nursing. I realize this all depends on what area you work in, but I would like to hear from anyone. Thanks!

I work in a LTCF and care for 30-35 patients (on a typical night).

I go to work at 6:45p, get report, count 2 cart and med room narc boxes, then pass hs meds and do a couple of TX (creams to faces and the like...), do certain vitals on certain folks, check O2 sats and machines, finish about 11p, do TX's fr the rest of the folks who require them, that takes till about 12a-1a, sit down and do my charting until approx. 3a (includes all the other bookwork we have to do), then, I get ready for morning, Which takes till about 4a.

4a-5a isn't too awful busy some nights, then at 5a, we start in finishing up the night, passing am meds and doing accuchecks, and re-doing some bandages that were taken off during the night. I usually finish up about 6:30-6:45a, and am taking care of some am charting when 1st shift comes in. Depending on the nurse that is relieving me, I can be fairly sure of her showing up between 6:30a (for the good ones) and 7:10a for the ones who think they can come and go as they please).

Once you get into your own routine, it isn't too bad. Guess I can't complain.

Hope this helps a little!:)

Julie

Pamelita · Dec 23, 2003

First, try to get report on time, ha,ha then assess your patients, get with your CNA for a mini report between the two of you, make sure you have an RT assigned to your section. Get your antibiotics and put them in your med drawers, while checking all your patients are breathing and all the tubes are still in place!!! Pass your meds, hang antibiotics, fight with therapy because they will be on the way in the morning. Of course there is always the help me pull a patient up, he needs a fecal bag, family is on the phone at 08am for an update, etc.

Then go on break for the daily morning coffee... after that, wound changes, CVL dsg. changes, labs, doctors orders to change fluids, put new mattresses, CT scans, new admission maybe??? at 11 start accuchecks.. also don't forget your tele checks!

at 12 go to lunch and feed yourself... then pass 13meds and antibiotics, new orders, check your vital signs, clean more poop, deal with family members they are probably in the room until the end of your shift.

At 1630 start accuchecks again, start meds again, deal with the cafeteria not bringing the right dinner, what there is no butter for the bread????!!!!

by 1800 make sure all orders are done, check your bags are all full of IV, TF, etc for next shift.

collapse while you wait for report... ha,ha

this is a typical day without a code, or patient falling, or family yelling, or administration doing rounds, without admissions when you have 7 patients already.....

its great!

Katnip, RN · Dec 23, 2003

Pretty close to what Pamelita said.

I work in an intermediate care unit, which is a step-down from ICU or CCU. We get medial or surgical patients, and patients who are for rule of of Tb. Typically, depending on what section we are in, and how many people we have, we can take 2-5 patients a day, all on cardiac monitors.

Get it about 0645, get report, depending on who you're following, clean up their mess, if there's time round with the doctors, chech the MAR, get meds ready if necessary, see what special care pt might need such as neuro or vascular checks, and when they get their blood sugar checked. Breathe a big sigh of relief if at least one patient is going to dialysis for 3-4 hours. Second best thing is doing dialysis in room. Typically no morning break here.

Patient assessment, if there's a tech, give report to tech, if not, bathe pt and change beds with assessments, check vent settings, suction, tidy rooms.

Double check orders for meds, tests, procedures, and diets. Make sure consents are in place if needed or order for restraint is update if needed. Dressing changes is physicians haven't done it in rounds. Usually they'll do the post-op dressing changes. Decubiti and other older wounds are done by the nurse.

If patient is called for a test, nurse must get them onto a stretcher or wheelchair if they aren't going in bed. If doc orders patient to be monitored, nurse escorts patient and stays for testing.

Pass meds, prep patients for transfer, discharge, tests. Track receiving nurse of transfer patients and give report. If discharging or transferring pt, call housekeeping to get room ready because PACU is full and needs to get patients out because they're expecting the next batch to come out of the OR.

Check morning lab results, cardiac rhythm strips for the log, vitals. If anything is out of whack, notify physician.

Lunch is 45 minutes if break isn't taken in the morning.

Afternoon is pretty much a repeat of morning. Reassess each patient at 1500, deal with the influx of visitors, new doctor's orders, transfuse blood if ordered, take more phone calls, etc. Add trach care at about 1400.

With exception of meds, vitals, special checks, turning, finger sticks etc,. many things are done when can be or as needed throught the day. such as ambulating a patient, cleaning up after a stool, trying to get the correct meal to the patient, calling doctors because you need something ordered for your patient, suctioning. Also charting for each patient needs to be squeezed in, at least once a day, more if there are procedures, tests, or something unexpected. And you can always count on the unexpected.

We usually get a small lull around 1600 when surgeons come back for afternoon rounds, if we aren't getting a new patient.

Anywhere between 1800 and 1900 we start taping report, making sure orders are taken off, narcotic count done, patients rooms are stocked, and if there's time, computer competency tests taken.

And like Pamelita said, this doesn't include codes, near-codes, exploding toilets, and heaters that break in rooms.

blueskydreamer · Dec 23, 2003

Thanks for replying, everyone. It sounds like nursing keeps you very busy and requires a lot of energy (and patience). I admire you all for sticking with something that can be so physically and mentally demanding and stressful at times. I just want to help people and contribute what I can to the world, while at the same time making enough money to be happy and not have to worry a lot. I guess what attracts me to nursing is the flexibility and variety, and from what I've heard nurses make decent money. Anyway, thanks for your info, it has helped me to get a better idea of what to expect.

giggles66 · Dec 24, 2003

Thanks also for the insight about a typical day as a nurse it was informative. I wouldn't mind hearing from more nurses. Thanks

Carmen