What are the little things you do to help the next shift?

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Jan 20, 2014

I always offer PRNs for pain (and other things) about an hour before shift change. It benefits the oncoming nurse and the patient. :) And since some patients are still sleeping at that time, I make arrangements with them the night before.

loriangel14, RN · Jan 20, 2014

I try to make sure that things like gloves and gowns (for isolation rooms) are stocked. I hang new bags if the IV bag is almost done ( so it doesn't start beeping half way through report). I tidy up the rooms and make sure the laudry and garbage bags are empty.I also make sure that any mess is cleared off of the report room table.I know it may seem silly but if I am putting people to bed at night and they have a catheter I try to hang the bag on the side of the bed closest to the door so anyone emptying the bag while it is still dark can see the bag more easily.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2014

Also make sure that if there are drsg/ostomy supplies that are needed on the room they are there especially if you are being relieved by the night shift. Make sure that any meds/IV antibiotics/TPN/Lipids are up from pharmacy.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Jan 20, 2014

Restock things. Restock the isolation cart, make sure there are extra dressing/wound care/ostomy supplies in the patient's room that way the oncoming nurse won't have to run out of the room in case they forget something. Try to medicate with prns if it's appropriate (and it's time to do so). Nothing worse than some patients harping on you for pain medicine and you get stuck with a shift change admission. Make sure there is fresh water at the bedside if the patient is not NPO. I used to hate it when I would come in to give meds and realize the patient didn't have enough water or they say, "that's the same water that has been there since this morning!" Delegate that to your CNAs if you can.

I work in the ER now, so now it's making sure the rooms are restocked with all of the needed supplies, included extra linens and gowns in the cupboards. There are some nights where we are so busy that we don't have time to stock but most of the time we are able to get it done. If there is a "shift change EMS patient" I will go in and get report, do the triage, do some basic labs/start an IV if they don't already have one or if it's a chest pain patient, do that EKG so it falls within the 10 minute mark. I honestly try to do as much as possible for the oncoming nurse if they get an EMS patient or say a level 2 at shift change.

Baubo516, RN · Jan 20, 2014

I am a CNA, but I think this is an awesome thread! The things I do to help the next shift are mostly the same - restock, restock, restock! I have a philosophy - if I use the last whatever (brief, package of wipes, laundry bag) in the room, I go get another one (or a few) right away so the room is restocked. If I use the last one on the unit (like a collection tube for an occult stool sample), then I will call SPD right away to get us some more. Better yet, if I use the 2nd to the last one, I will call. There is nothing worse than getting a new admit who needs a commode bucket and wants to pee right now, and finding there are no buckets on our unit. Why didn't someone call SPD when they took the last one?

Great thread! I hope lots of folks read it!

Paws2people · Jan 20, 2014

Bite my tongue when they come in after I've heard the things the previous shift has told us they said about us. Lol :eek:

Caffeine_IV · Jan 20, 2014

Pain, position, and potty on my last round so they don't ask right at shift change. No dry IV bags. Tidy up the room and take out trash.

HikingEDRN, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2014

In the ED, I try to get all workup tasks done - cathing, blood work, second set of cultures, second line if necessary. I can always chart assessments after I give report and the oncoming nurse can round and take care of additional orders that the docs love to put in at 7:05 (our shift change is 6:45-7:15).

Sugarcoma, RN · Jan 20, 2014

I try to make sure my room is stocked, call for re-fills of any drips that may be running out soon, make sure all am labs are resulted and addressed, give prn pain meds if due soon, and clarify any conflicting/confusing orders. If the patient has an unusually involved/picky family and I have learned how to make them happy I will share that as well. Also I try to make sure patient is clean and not sitting in a mess. Basically I try to do for my coworkers what I would like them to do for me and that is give me time to assess without having to run around replacing IV bags, giving pain meds, addressing labs that no one has bothered to etc.

If the patient has a new issue prior to shift change I try to address it or at least get the orders in place for the oncoming nurse to address. For example if my patient goes into a-fib with RVR at 6:59 I will call the doc, get an order, call pharmacy and let them know we need it ASAP, make sure they have adequate IV access for the med (usually amio) etc. That way all the oncoming nurse has to do is spike and hang the med.

allnurses Guide · Jan 20, 2014

I definitely do the fluids thing and make sure the bag isn't running dry. If I have blood to run, I get as much of it done as possible, preferably finished, before the next shift comes on. At the very least, if it is cutting it tight, I get it started so they aren't having to start their shift monitoring a new transfusion.

I order refill bags on gtts that the patient is on so when the current bag is done the refill is up from pharmacy and all ready to go. I make sure there is a good, solid, patent IV. If there are things I was unable to get to, like a dressing change, I try to make sure at the least supplies are in the room to get it done. Sometimes we do it together before I go, during bedside handoff. I make sure pumps are cleared, Foley is freshly emptied and to introduce the oncoming nurse with an expression of confidence to the patient that they are in good hands through the night.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2014

If a patient is going to a procedure in the morning, I put the patient in a Bair Paw gown, have the pre op checklist as completed as I can, and give any applicable meds.