What is Your Daily Routine?

liljsmom02 · Oct 3, 2007

I take a few minutes at the beginning of my shift to prioritize. 10 minutes can save alot of time. First I check my charts against my ned sheets. At the same time I write down what time each pt has meds. Then I look at my "cheat sheet" and prioritize my pt's by diagnosis and next by med times. This way I can get the most out of time in with a pt. I will coordinate my meds with my assessments. I also try to time my dressing changes with med times towards the end of the shift. When I have even just a few minutes of down time, I chart. Sorry that was so winded. Basically, optimize your time by multitasking and staying organized.

crossbow · Oct 9, 2007

Time Management is the key. I work nights and usually we are understaffed in terms of support staff availability.

After getting report, I check all my patients (initial nursing rounds) and environment of each patient (IV access and lines, feeding tubes and foleys, diapered or not, a quick mental assessment by talking to patient and seeing how he/she responds to my verbal stimuli - usually introducing myself as the nurse for the night. Fall risk or not)

Then check the charts and reconcile what you got in report and what is in the chart. (I call it "truth or consequence" game. If the previous nurse that gave you report told you the entire story...you're well off. But if the previous nurse report is lacking....the consequence is that you will have to do the research.) Reconcile chart orders with MAR and Medication Profile of the patient in the computer. Check med cart if all patient's meds are available to you

in time for your Med pass.

Then take it from there.

A tidbit. When you have an isolation patient, before gowning up, make sure you have everything you need and you do all that needs to be done in order to avoid making another unnecessary re-entry into that room.

abundantjoy07, RN · Oct 15, 2007

Thanks guys...great answers. :rolleyes: Learning how others progress through the day is very helpful. Any more responses would be welcome!

otan11 · Oct 18, 2007

hi abundantjoy07,

i will be starting next week in a med-surg area.i am pretty nervous.thank you for nice information...

MedicalLPN, LPN · Oct 20, 2007

I work night shift as well. I'll just give you my routine assuming that I have no admissions and no patients going critical. I start off getting at work at around 1830 get report at 1845 and head out on the floor. I pull up all my patients on the computer and look and see what time their getting their meds and how many their getting, etc. I then go to my first patient check their chart looking over the orders and skimming the H and P I go in and assess my patient, introduce myself, check their IV site, etc. I then document my assessment and move on to the next patient until I've checked all my patients charts and have assessed all my patients and documented the assessments. Depending on my patient load this takes anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours. Usually by then is 2030 I get started with my 2000 and 2100 med pass, once those are done I again check to see if I have any 2200's or 2400's. When I'm giving out my 2200's if they're on telemetry I go ahead and get their VS (all tele pts are on q4hr VS where I work). Usually once my 2200's and 2400's are given out I go ahead and chart some more on each of my pts, answer call lights, medicate for pain, do any dressing changes that have to be done, hang IV fluids as ordered. I give out any 0200 and 0300 meds (usually IVPB antibiotics). By 0430 I begin getting the qshift VS, I/O's, nursing rounds charting, and 12 hour chart checks. Once those are done it's usually around 0500 or 0530 I start handing 0600 meds, call in any critical labs, this takes until about 0615-0630 I make one final round and prepare to give report to the dayshift nurse. Like I said this is my routine if I don't recieve any admissions, don't have any DNR's die, and don't have any pts go critical, and all of us who work Med/surg know that nights without complications are rare! lol Anyway hope this long and drawn out post is helpful!

Dofarel · Nov 24, 2008

What is a ned?

JBizzleRN, ADN, RN · Nov 24, 2008

My usual routine:

1) Make walking rounds and see if they need anything then. Also if I got a good report from the previous nurse I go ahead and do my shift assessments. If I got a crappy report I'll go check the chart and then come back to do my assessment. Be sure to tell them you are going to check their chart and look over their meds and that you will be back shortly but to call out if they need anything before you come back.

2) Go check my charts.

3)Make a sheet of what time each pt has meds so I don't miss a 2am IVPB or IVP. Also I have a misc. colum to see who gets dressing changes, needs to be turned, ect. I also write down who has AM labs (nurses draw labs).

4) I then go to the supply room and get IV fluids for every patient (unless the fluid is going at KVO) so I have the fluid ready when I see it running low and I don't have to run down the hall to get it.

5) Pass out meds

Of course if something happens such as an admission or a patient goes bad..this all goes out the window

:bugeyes:

mcknis · Dec 3, 2008

Start out of report getting assessments done on my pts and check IV sites (usually takes from end of report/0720-0800), check labs, check med times, give 0800 insulins/meds after receiving VS from NA, report to charge nurse about poss d/c's/update from previous shift (this is truly a pain in the butt), chart assessments, pass 1000 meds. The rest of the afternoon is spent charting PRN, calling MDs, working on D/C's, IV starts, pass other scheduled meds, dressings/tx's, assist NA or LPN with any baths, etc. There is always plenty of work to be done, and although it sounds easy enough, anyone else with experience knows it is never this easy. Around 1700 finish up passing meds, I&Os, figure out who has had a BM today, do final turns, chart last minute stuff, prep for report at 1845-1915/1920. I also have a check list on my clipboard of other things I am suposed to do throughout my day so I don't forget certain things.

guest64485 · Dec 15, 2008

0630 - arrive, obtain profile sheet of my patients, read through them, write down pertinent new orders or specimens that are still needed, and questions for noc shift. Look at schedule for times for patient procedures for the day and what prep needs to be done. Look up labs, make note of those I need to speak with physician about or those that I need to follow protocols on.

07 - walking report, call doc if needed for labs.

08 - Pair med passes with assessments, take care of immediate patient needs. Do patient prep or paperwork for day's procedures

10 - Verify new orders, work on discharges

12 - lunch meds/insulin. Lunch for self

14 - continue with patient needs, verifying orders, non urgent dressing changes, take admit/transfer, do the associated paperwork

16 - chart

18 - dinner meds, prepare for shift change. Get patients settled, restart an IV (one always seems to go bad at this time)

19 - give report, chart

I find that, unfortunately, a lot of my time is spent having to get basic supplies or medications that are not available when I go to get them.