Typical Shift For Med/Sur RN

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2005

I always use the 30 day's have september.......................Wouldn't have clue how many days were in a month otherwise :chuckle

Haven't a clue re left and right I have to think what side is my appendix scar on :uhoh21:

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2005

On a medical/surgical ward
What would be a typical shift for an RN? Things I would like to know are
When you arrive on duty what do you do after hand over.
I work 2:45 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. (usually, much later :)) and after receiving report (or handover), I check meds. for each patient, write them down, quickly check charts, and then begin assessing patients before dinner arrives at 5:00. I also give report to the aide and get vital signs and blood sugar results from them after 4:00.
What are the times of the medications.
Our routine med. times are : Once daily: 0800. BID meds are 0800-1800. TID meds are 0800-1300-1800. QID are 0800-1300-1800-2200. HS meds at 2200. Q8H meds are given at 0800-1600-0000 or 0400-1200-2000. Coumadin is given at 1800, Digoxin at noon. Those are our "routine" med times, but q 24 hr IV antibiotics could be given anytime.
How many patients would you be expected to look after, and what would you be expected to do for each patient?
We can have 6-7 patients on all three shifts and we assess, medicate, perform wound care, teach, deal with family questions and needs, empty urinals and bedpans, ambulate patients, whatever-- pretty much what an aide does if the aide isn't available. We call doctors for problems/needs or to report new findings (labs and other results that are abnormal) We do computer documentation, but there's never time to read the chart or Progress Notes, unfortunately. Wish there was since I don't always feel I have a clear, complete picture of the person I'm caring for.
Can nurses self prescribe anything?
No.
What time aprox are the shifts/
12 hour shifts are most popular for the full-timers, but there are still a number of full-time 8-hour shift workers. Part-timers work 8 or 12 hour shifts and Pool or Casual nurses work 4, 8, or 12 hours, wherever the need is. Our 12 hour shifts are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. 8 hour shifts are 7-3, 3-11, and 11-7.
Hope this helps! :)

Very helpful thank you, and thanks to all who replied (hey stevielynn got that one right)

:)