Every so often it occurs, a slow shift. Patients aren’t calling, everyone is stable, everyone takes their medication. These shifts are few. Slow shifts happen, more often on some other floors. But what to do with the extra time between medicine passes and assessments? What’s a nurse to do?
#1 Get your documentation done
Whenever there is extra time, get your documentation done. The shifts necessary assessments out of the way it gives the nurse the option to complete other tasks like dressing changes, and chart that information in real time. At the end of your shift with everything charted, all you have to do is give report and go home. I have met some nurses that prefer to wait until the end of the shift so they don’t run out of stuff to do. I personal don’t understand, but everyone is different. My big advice whenever you have the time, get it done.
#2 Round on your patients
A little extra time is easy to socialize, there is nothing wrong with that but remember we are there for the patients. When rounding at somewhat regular intervals, you can meet needs of the pain, the ice, the water, and the toileting before they need to hit the call bell. Nothing is worse than sitting down to have someone call because they need their pain pills. Rounding on patients will make them more happy and for the majority keep them off their call bells. Although there will always be the small number no matter what you do will not stay off the call bell.
#3 Time for training
It’s been an unusual shift, your charting is complete, you’ve rounded on your patients and you even taken a break. The email at work contains one from the unit educator that you over due on some online training. In the several hospitals I’ve worked at, every nurse has some training they’ve put off. This is your time to get productive. It’s not the most exciting thing to do, but it is a task that needs to be done. It’s a pain but most hospitals have training requirements. Some requirements and online task are contingent on raises and real reviews.
#4 Lend a helping hand
If you’re sitting there, and someone isn’t, go see if they need help. Nursing is a team sport and everyone needs some help. Also, be the co-worker you wish you had. This helping hand needs to be extended to the aids. The task that nurses don’t want to do, the toileting, cleaning, and getting vital signs. None of these things are out of the nursing field of practice.
#5 Take a break
After you’ve been productive all night or day, please don’t forget to take a break. Wander down to the cafeteria, the vending machines, or break room, sit down, eat, drink water and take some time for you. Oh yeah, don’t forget to go to the bathroom.
So these shifts are few, but it’s always good to make the best out of the extra time. So remember, don’t say the “Q” word and get through your shift.