What makes you say/think "it was a good shift?"

My spouse was asking this question the other day, and my response was this: I felt like I had the time and energy to give good, compassionate, solid patient care. I felt like I was a good nurse and made a real difference. I felt like I did a good job providing care to my patient, and that my charting was excellent and detailed. I felt like I had the time I needed to get everything done, and left the hospital leaving nothing left undone. I was able to do the little things as well as the big things.

What about you?

[smf0903]

No one died unexpectedly, I clock out on time, and I don't have anyone else's bodily fluids on me :)

[quazar]

When I get to eat during my shift.

Yes, this is always nice. Being able to have a cup of hot coffee on your shift is also a little luxury.

One thing though, a perfectly good shift can easily feel less great if the handover goes poorly. Some nurses seems to be experts in digging out things I could have done but didn't and then I'm left feeling bad after all.

I know exactly the kind of hand off you are talking about, and it is such a buzz kill. The oncoming nurse nitpicks on stupid, stupid STUPID stuff, and you kinda want to just squint at them and say, "does giving good care even matter to you or is it all only about checking boxes and forms?" Then smack them in the head with the clip board. Oh sorry, lost myself there for a sec.

Precept a student... I usually enjoy doing that.

I adore having students. :)

[quazar]

I get to throughly chart... I love the satisfaction of having all the t's crossed.

Theres a good code on another unit and the team rocks it. (I don't want you to code, I just want to be there if you do!)

My patients are tucked and fluffed and my room is pretty and stocked at the end of the day.

That hot cup of coffee tho' --- time for that makes it a GREAAT day :)

Yaaaaaaaaaasss to all of this, but substitute "stat c-section" for "code."

[PMHNP10]

1). Nobody died (except that guy on comfort care, but he just quetly slipped away, with no pain and with his kids sitting near and holding his hands).

2). Everybody was happy (within reasons)

3). Everything worked (again, within reasons. And I put that IV in, too).

4). Nobody was coded or otherwise dragged STAT anywhere with basically unknown purpose.

5). Docs were there and listened to what I had to tell them.

6). Families were teacheable, polite and reasonable in their expectations.

7). The Powers were somewhere else

8). I had enough CNAs, and they were doing their job as I was doing mine.

C'mon, you were asked what makes a good day, not to detail your wildest fantasy.

For me a good day is simply that each of my clients show up on time and I do not fall behind. A great day is that a majority are doing well or at least better than they were the last time I saw them and if someone has a need I'm able to address, I do so. A great day may also be hearing that someone decided to act on something we discussed at a prior appointment and this resulted in them making a very positive change. I land in the middle of fantasy island wishing everyone was med/treatment compliant and in remission, but it sure would be nice.