What time do you expect your relief nurse to show up?

Published

I work in LTC and have had this problem every since I can remember:

The next shift nurse doesn't show up until 6:10am.

It makes me mad that I show up at 5:45pm, the time I was told to be there by the DON, to get report and count the narcs, but they can't do me the same favor? :banghead: I'd like to go home too after 12 hours and not make it look like I am the one milking the clock.

Just a pet peeve of mine, but I expect nurses to be professional. I guess I am just too old school?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mostly LTC, some acute and some ER,.

I expect my relief to show up at their schedualed time. Not 25 minutes later. I am sorry that you are going through that. It is not much of a problem where I work. There is the occasional one who oversleeps, which I have been guilty of myself. If it happens repeatedly, I feel that some action should be taken on that person, as it is very unfair.

Personally I prefer to be there 15 minutes early to get get a cup of coffee, and get an early heads up as to what went on during the previous shift, especially if it is my first day back in a couple days.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele/Onc.

Honeslty? I expect my relief to show up 5 - 10 minutes before the time told to show up (for us 6:45). I think they should be ready to take report at 6:45, not show up, put their coat/purse away, chat a few minutes about their day/night, get their papers together, etc. at 6:45. I'm the 'late' one on my shift, showing up around 6:15 or 6:20. The other nurses I work with show up at 6:00. They get their Kardexes, look up labs and meds, etc.... before getting report. I do the same thing, minus the meds. And since we aren't allowed to clock in until 6:30, I don't like volunteering my time.

The night shift doesn't extend the same courtesy. Most of them show up at 6:45 and are ready by 6:50, 6:55 for report. A few show up later and it irks me when I've husselled to be ready for them and then have to wait around, especially since we have to do bed-side reporting which takes longer than the 30 minutes aloted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

I sure am glad that our facility schedules us with a half hour overlap.. so no one is volunteering time to come in just to get report. Of course it's my first job but I like that I come in,punch in on time and then get report, count narcs.. We are not rushed nor are they running out the door when I come... Now sometimes when the night shift comes in it takes a little longer as they get report from 2 nurses and count 2 carts but overall if I get held over its paperwork or charting.. thank goodness so far ;) ..

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you're not 10 minutes early you are late for work....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in DOU.

I aways show up 10-15 minutes early to print my labs... the night shift never does that, but I don't care so long as they are ready to take report at 7:00 pm.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SRNA.

My shift starts at 7pm. We can clock in 10 minutes early at the most. I clock in between 6:50 and 7:00 and go to get report at 7:00.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room.

i am always on time for my shift, maybe 5 minutes earlier, but never late. i expect the same (with the exception of an emergency).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in acute care and geriatric.

It is accepted in our field to arrive early to receive shift and allow the nurse you are relieving to catch her bus or whatever.

I was once asked to stay a half hour every morning to allow a certain morning nurse to come late so she doesn't have to see the night CNA who she despises, I declined and told them to grow up. I hate having to stay late for a tardy nurse!!!

Pick your battles but if this bothers you tell the nurse involved - explain your need to leave on time and if need be gently remind her that you could bring this to the DON's attention. Keeping it simmering inside is unhealthy and could affect patient care.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in oncology, med/surg (all kinds).

maybe you could try telling whoever has control to change the situation. but instead of putting it on the perps, put it on yourself. "i need to know if it is inappropriate for me to clock in at 5:45 to get report, because i don't want to seem like i am trying to sneak in extra time. since the other shift comes in at 0610, then i don't get out of work till ______ which looks like more extra time. i like having a little extra money, but i like to go home too --plus my kid needs to be picked up/my dog needs to be walked/my gym closes early/whatever...so if i need to make special arrangements for my life (regarding previous examples) i just want to know. am i doing something wrong with my time? no? then can you help me figure out the best way to help my co workers be on time? *managers tend to prefer can-you-help-me-solve-the-problem more than waah waah they come in late and it's not fair.

maybe that's too much info. sorry. i hate it when you try to do the right thing an someone you rely on doesn't do the right thing, but doesn't really care they aren't doing the right thing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in acute care and geriatric.
maybe you could try telling whoever has control to change the situation. but instead of putting it on the perps, put it on yourself. "i need to know if it is inappropriate for me to clock in at 5:45 to get report, because i don't want to seem like i am trying to sneak in extra time. since the other shift comes in at 0610, then i don't get out of work till ______ which looks like more extra time. i like having a little extra money, but i like to go home too --plus my kid needs to be picked up/my dog needs to be walked/my gym closes early/whatever...so if i need to make special arrangements for my life (regarding previous examples) i just want to know. am i doing something wrong with my time? no? then can you help me figure out the best way to help my co workers be on time? *managers tend to prefer can-you-help-me-solve-the-problem more than waah waah they come in late and it's not fair.

maybe that's too much info. sorry. i hate it when you try to do the right thing an someone you rely on doesn't do the right thing, but doesn't really care they aren't doing the right thing.

no need to go into so much detail, no one needs to know why you need to clock in on time and leave on time- its your right and you need not justify it or it becomes a contest as to whose needs are greater- "well you're just walking the dog, my babysitter has to come from dialysis and cant start before ---"..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ha! I am gaining experience everyday!.

On a late day, I do get to my floor right at 6:45pm, but most of the time I am there by 6:30pm. I do expect that my relief nurse be here for me by 0645 but on some days that isn't very realistic. One day my car ran hot, and if I didn't leave at my usual 6pm, I would have been much later. It is kind of good to get there early. And if you have some time to kill, get a coffee or just take your time getting to the floor that you work on. It never hurts to be early, even if you have to wait on the time clock to clock in. It makes the day go smoother to get there early. Or at least in my opinion. :nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion