Hi. I'm a new Grad. Will start my duty next week as an RN :)
I know that this may be a trivial question but what time do you usually clock in?
Back where I came from (another country) most of the RNs who are still on training arrive about 30 mins to an hour before their duty time. I guess that is the culture of that certain hospital. How about here in US (I see that every extra hour is counted), so what time do you usually clock in? (especially on a 7a-7p shift?) -that's my shift.
Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
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.
I also come into work a half hour early to begin looking up info on my patients. I can't clock in until 7 min before the shift starts, but I'm able to plan my day MUCH more efficiently, ask specific questions during report, and have some questions ready for when the docs round. I work with some very good nurses and at my current facility, it's rare I'm not given pertinent information during report, but it's happened, no one is perfect. Plus I find that my mornings are very very busy & knowing which patients have a high chance of being discharged that morning helps me to know who I need to chart on first so there's no hold up.
I wish I could be like the nurses that go in just before their shift starts, I'd love the extra sleep. But, the couple times I tried that, I felt rushed, unsure and behind. It eases my own mind to know more info about my patients than what a 2 minute report can give me.
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....
You do know that IT can see exactly who accesses charts and what time they are accessed, right? If your facility has a "no chart access until you're clocked in" policy, it would probably be a good idea for you to follow it.
No sense giving them something to trot out if they ever decide they don't like you and want to give you the shoe.
You do know that IT can see exactly who accesses charts and what time they are accessed, right? If your facility has a "no chart access until you're clocked in" policy, it would probably be a good idea for you to follow it.
No sense giving them something to trot out if they ever decide they don't like you and want to give you the shoe.
Yep. Like I said, I'm aware of the rules of my facility. Thanks.
I clock in about 7 minutes to 1 minute beforehand. There is no point of getting there too early. Each hospital is a bit different too. A shift may be 7-7 but it really may be 6:45 to 7:15. In my hospital, floor is 6:45 to 7:15 and ER is 7:00 to 7:30. The extra 30 minutes evens out your unpaid lunch.
Find out about the culture regarding lunch breaks. Some departments do not let you take them and require you to remain unpaid. Not legal.
When I arrive for a shift scheduled to start at 0700, I cannot (facility policy) clock in earlier than 0653. The prior shift stays until 0730 and during that overlap is when bedside report occurs. I'm sure each facility is different, but this is how my morning starts! Hope this helps!
It seems to me that those of you who choose to work off the clock, make those of us who don't, look less efficient.
Management likes you because you don't make them pay for the time it takes to be more efficient. It doesn't make me angry or resentful. I'm simply observing.
Nobody where I am works for free. Not one single nurse. If there were, I wouldn't resent them. We all just make our choices.
I have to admit though, that I kind of like that my colleagues and I are all on the same page.
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
It seems to me that those of you who choose to work off the clock, make those of us who don't, look less efficient.
I think I understand what you're saying, but I see it differently. If you are able to start on time and still get tasks done, you are the efficient one.
I have always said that I'm slow, as a nurse. 😀 my bosses and co workers disagreed, but I envied the efficient, fast nurses!
CelticGoddess, BSN, RN
896 Posts
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.