The next shift nurse

widi96 · Jan 20, 2008

Just a week or two ago. Same situation - they called the labs results at 6:15 - I called and got the order to transfuse, called POA and got consent. It was 7:20 when they called and said the blood was ready (shift ends at 7:15). I went down and got the blood and verified it with the next nurse so that it the transfusion was initiated, and she was mad because this all came up at shift change and the patient then needed a new IV for her cipro to run. No appreciation what so ever for the fact that I stayed late and helped with the priority - the blood. Oh well - It all depends on the person.

caliotter3 · Jan 20, 2008

When I used to find things that were obviously left for several hours from the previous shift, I made a mental note to myself that I would no longer push myself to stay and finish everything that got started during the last 15 minutes of my shift. There would also be fights among the CNAs about this sort of thing, and I told my CNAs that if it happened during the last 5 minutes, it was for the next shift because they were supposed to be getting themselves together to be at the time clock on time since there was no overtime. There is very little that can be done during the last 5 to 15 minutes of a shift and I won't put off what I have to have done to add some more work that won't be compensated after I'm due to be out of the building. You don't see the next shift coming in early to help knowing that they won't be paid overtime for the time before their shift starts, so why expect the outgoing shift to stay over for free?

nyapa, RN · Jan 20, 2008

Do what my clinical nurse manager on one ward said. Say to them that nursing is a 24 hour job. You've done your best in the time allocated. Be assertive...

bill4745, RN · Jan 20, 2008

Say to them that nursing is a 24 hour job

.

Have said this dozens of times. If a patient arrives five minutes before shift change, you do what you can do in the five minutes

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2008

Transfusing blood is no real biggy..you did all the prep stuff. That's what counts, kudos to you!

Tait, MSN, RN · Jan 20, 2008

I wouldn't take offense to her being upset. I am sure it wasn't aimed at you, but more at the situation.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 20, 2008

a new admit will come up right as I am giving report to the next nurse. I will take report on the new admission, get vital signs, and make sure the patient is stable, but the next nurse gets mad that I am leaving her to do the whole admission.

I tell them "sorry that's why there are 2 shifts" It happened to me all the time and likewise I would do admissions on new admits that had just come to the floor just prior to or during change of shift. It works two ways, it's a joint effort.

Rnannie94 · Jan 20, 2008

Unfortunately, some nurses are this way.... and they shouldn't be. Nursing is 24hr care - and just one nurse is not expected to provide that care. At my hospital, our policy is if an admit comes at the half hour mark before the next shift (ie, 0630), the admit is to be completed by the oncoming shift. Our only responsibility is making sure the pt is settled, immediate concerns addressed, but the rest is the next shift's responsibility. If the pt was in distress, had high fever, of course we would address it, but the rest gets passed on.

Try not to let her get to you. I know it's tough when someone has that kind of attitude, but you can't help the timing. If she gives you too much trouble, you may want to speak to your manager about expectations, cutoff times for admits, etc. If you don't feel comfortable w/ stating a particular nurse is giving you problems, maybe address it as a general concern for clarification.

Good Luck!!

Ahhphoey · Jan 20, 2008

Yeah, this is something that happens every where and to every nurse at some point. I only get upset if things that were ordered several hours before have not been addressed or completed, unless there is a good reason. But even then, throwing a hissy fit does not fix the problem, it just wastes time that could be spent completing the task. I also live by the saying that nursing is 24 hours and truly appreciate any thing that has been done for an admission that comes at change of shift when I arrive. Every little bit helps.

Burnt Out, ASN, RN · Jan 20, 2008

This is why we have shifts in nursing. Sometimes you just have to say you did the best you could, the patient is not in distress and that nursing is a 24 hr job. I know I would love to have everything completely done for the next shift on new admits or transfusion orders that were written in that last hour, but we are only human and we can only do so much.

Try not to let it bother you.

Riseupandnurse · Jan 20, 2008

It's not leaving admits that gets me upset; it's discharges. The patient is always in a hurry to leave or an ambulance has been booked, and I know NOTHING about the patient. It's very distressing to get tied up with that first thing and then you can't see your other patients. Luckily the people I work with are very good at getting discharges all ready to go before they leave.