Feeling nervous about what information you will need during your first per diem or agency shift? Dive into this blog for all the tea on being prepared and advocating for yourself to have the best shift, ever.
Make sure you have a pen and paper handy on arrival!
Questions for offgoing nurse!
- Where is the crash cart?
- What are the codes/keys and location to storage rooms, medication and supply rooms, exit and entrance doors to the facility.
- Directory of important #’s – Director of Nursing, on call nursing #, On call doctors/providers, Lab, Pharmacy etc.
- Skilled charting, Neuros, Covid charting etc.
- Whom of my PTs are accuchecks, IV/PICC, Drains/tubes, Gtubes, Dialysis PTs, PTs on neuros, NPOs, acute conditions, wanderers/exit-seeking PT, Isolation, pending labs/imaging.
- Are there any call outs for my assignment? Are my staff (CNAs, Med Techs, etc) facility staff or agency? Make sure you know who is on your assignment and that they know what’s going on. It will save you problems in the long run, of your shift!
- Do you have any VIP patients/families? These are families (usually not patients) who have frequent complaints and unrealistic complaints. If you know ahead of time who is unreasonable, you can try to avoid problems during your shift. Save time and plan ahead, always!
Anytime you can, do walking rounds and put eyes on your patients. Be friendly and helpful to staff – it will help you when you need it in return and it’s just the right thing to do.
Being in a facility per diem, contract or agency means you are representing yourself. You are theoretically a contracted person. It’s like if someone came to mow your lawn as you contracted them to do, if they leave and did not complete their job fully, would you have them back? You are representing you! I know you are awesome, so let them know!
Stay tuned for more tips and tricks on Per Diem, agency and contract work on Nurse Nanook’s blog. Questions are welcomed on any and all topics related to nursing, career development and education! Remember to research opportunities, you are capable of all things nursing.
