Whose responsibility is the incident report in this case?

It indeed should have been the nurse who took over for you. If you would have volunteered that would be one thing, but since you were already working over your shift, they really should have just taken care of it. Are you in LTC?

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...I would have been punched out and left the building already right after handing over the cart and reporting off.

And that's the problem. When your shift is over, GO HOME. If you're sitting around charting, things are going to keep happening and people are going to keep expecting you to handle them.

It's the next shift's responsibility, in my opinion ....but yet, you're both still on the clock.

Focus on getting your charting done as early as possible. Tasks can be passed on, but charting can not.

Yes I am. It's the rehab floor in a Ltc facility. I don't think I can handle it. I might be leaving but I'm afraid most facilities will be the same.

That's the problem! Until I hand off the cart I can't even begin my charting at all! There's way too much to do. Meds are the primary focus and those never even get done on time, then there are orders and miscellaneous requests throughout the day. I just have to write it all down in a to do list and work on that when I hand off the med cart. Then you have treatments to do, which never get finished. I'm honest about it and I don't sign off if I didn't do it but some nurses just sign to be able to get done. I'm going and going right up to 3:00 or later when I catch up on the tasks I couldn't complete earlier then I try to focus on banging out the chart notes. I'm really discouraged. I don't know if it's just this place or if every place is like this but it's overwhelming and there's not enough time in the day for everything that has to be done.

That's the problem! Until I hand off the cart I can't even begin my charting at all! There's way too much to do. Meds are the primary focus and those never even get done on time, then there are orders and miscellaneous requests throughout the day. I just have to write it all down in a to do list and work on that when I hand off the med cart. Then you have treatments to do, which never get finished. I'm honest about it and I don't sign off if I didn't do it but some nurses just sign to be able to get done. I'm going and going right up to 3:00 or later when I catch up on the tasks I couldn't complete earlier then I try to focus on banging out the chart notes. I'm really discouraged. I don't know if it's just this place or if every place is like this but it's overwhelming and there's not enough time in the day for everything that has to be done.

If you're a new nurse, chances are that you can handle it and you will get a lot faster. Keep experimenting until you find a method that works for you ....but try very hard to knock that charting out early as opposed to leaving it for the end of the shift. Ask someone you trust for advice on how to make it as complete as required, but brief.

That's a good idea, if I can at least get that done during the day then I can go down the list of all the other tasks as soon as I hand off the med cart and I won't be stuck at the computer right in the middle of the nurses station. Thank you for the encouragement, I really needed that.

I always figured that when report was finished, narc counted and keys handed over to the next shift nurse, that I was now off the floor. Fortunately, wherever I have worked, I was left to do charting. If you can, try to find a place away from the phone to do the charting. Another idea is to tell the caller that you will have the nurse who is on take the call and give it ti her, You will get faster,

About the skin tear, it was discovered and reported on the next shift and with that nurse being the one on the floor, she is the one to fill out the report. Good or you for standing your ground, Hopefully she won't be trying that again.

As has been said, you may want to see what you can do to minimize the extra time. Time management takes time to establish at each place.

Head on over to the LTC forum...lots of advice on time management in the rehab snf setting.

I've been in SNF for the last 20 years and wouldn't have expected you to do the incident report. Things like this happen. It is life. You are a new nurse and just getting the hang of things. It will take time. 18-22 people isn't bad, so the grass probably won't be greener. If you are still on orientation, you should have a preceptor or someone to help you/ train you. Where is that person?

Do you have a charge nurse or unit manager? When i work 7-3 I refuse to answer the phone unless it is paged to me. During the day, the office staff will answer the phone and direct it to other departments. This helps a ton!

We are supposed to have a secretary but she's leaving so we've all been expected to answer phones. Since I was signed off on the cart, I haven't been paired with anyone but I am technically still orienting to the facility and will be for another several weeks. Today I'm supposed to be orienting on the desk but my preceptor is equally as busy and hasn't had much time to explain anything. It's so frustrating! I really don't have anyone that is precepting me.

Usually it is the person who finds the "incident" who fills out the report.

Yes and I left that facility. I'm still in LTC and it still gets crazy sometimes but not nearly as bad/unorganized as this place.