What time do you clock in?

This is a question that will be answered during your orientation and if it isn't, do ask. Facilities have different protocols for clocking in.

It will depend on your facility. My previous hospital you could not clock in more than 6 minutes early, my current hospital is 7 minutes so the earliest I can clock in at my current job for my shift that starts at 1800 is 1753. Prior to that it would be considered an unapproved clock in.

Facility and/or unit based. For me, for surgery, the 07:00 shift can clock in at 06:53-07:08. On the floor, the 7-3 shift actually starts at 06:45 & can clock in at 06:38-06:53.

You need to ask your manager or HR what policy is for your shift/dept.

Most facilities will tell you that you aren't allowed to clock in earlier than the time the clock in machine allows. For me, this was +/- 7 mins.

However, what I did was show up earlier than that by 15-30 mins. Then clock in at the appropriate time.

No this was not "legal". But it helped me to start my shift ahead of time. I could get acclimated to the unit, do a narc count, and possibly start pouring meds. I've seen experienced nurses do the same. (Though like I said, we are not supposed to do this)

Once I was an established employee, I know my supervisors knew I did it, but they looked the other way. I got the job done.

I knew that I couldn't chart early or file for workmans comp for injuries sustained while working off the clock, as that is illegal.

My facility does not allow punching in prior to 7 minutes before the start of your shift.

That being said, I tend to arrive to my floor about 1/2 hr prior. If the assignement is done, I get to a computer and start getting all the basic info I need on my patients. I get my computer ready making sure it has everything in working order (the scanner, the mouse, the monitor etc). I get my supplies ready. At 7 minutes before my shift starts I punch in. If I'm done doing my normal 'prep' work and the offgoing nurses are ready to give report I get it. If they aren't quite ready, I continue to read up on my patients getting more detailed info on them.

What I don't do if I'm not clocked in...answer phones, answer call bells, assist with any patient care, I don't witness wastes of meds etc, basically anything related to the patient. Because, if something should happen..I'm not on the clock. If I get hurt doing anything prior to punching in I'm not covered because technically I wasn't working.

Why would anybody start work without being paid?

It depends on your company's policies. The one I currently work for has a stupid policy and you can't clock in until two minutes until the shift starts. Most people ignore it and clock in when they start work.

Find out how strict your workplace is, when you get a job. Some facilities write people up for clocking in a minute early, some don't care if you clock in thirty minutes early.

It is, however, a good idea to BE there ten minutes early and hang out in the break room until it's time to clock in. That way you won't be late.

I'm not that nice, I dont work for free. If its my permanent job or a ward I've been to before. About 5-10 minutes before shift start.

If its a new ward, I make a point of getting in about 15 minutes early so I can suss out where everything is so I can hit the ground running when the shift kicks off.

I, along with many of my coworkers come into work about half hour early to prepare and look up our pts. It's not about being nice to anyone but ourselves because it makes us feel more prepared. However, we would get a good talking to if we actually clocked in when we got to work. We clock in as soon as 5 minutes before the shift begins. We are late if we clock in one minute passed shift start time. So we are there before clocking in. We are not to open charts until we're clocked in but we can see a snapshot of a pts chart and meds without opening them up. Honestly, I do open them up a little early sometimes....

Why would anybody start work without being paid?

I do it because a) I am not sure what kind of report I am going to get and b) my patient population tends to be high acuity and if I don't know them, I really don't want to go into a room and find out my patient has superior vena cava syndrome or HIT.