Being late to work...

What effect does being late to work have on your unit? How about your patients??
What effect does being late to work have on your unit? How about your patients??

undoubtedly, it brings all sorts of emotions in the unit and not good ones. having said that, i do understand that sometimes we can't control some situations. however, it's common courtesy, not to mention unprofessionalism to be late, specially when you're reliving the night shift. in addition, you start your shift in the wrong foot. therefore, my advise is don't be late if you don't want any drama at work...just saying...remember don't start none won't be none~

we had a chronic late comer once. Staff talked to her, nurse manager talked to her --- she just could not make it in on time. So we went to CNO who made it part of the policy that tardiness was a policy infraction that accrued points and enough points could get you fired. We finally got rid of her.

Quote from gitanornhaving said that, i do understand that sometimes we can't control some situations.

I don't understand chronic late comers. I certainly do understand that there are rare instances. To keep from being chronically late, here is a practice that I found helpful.I was never late except the day I had a wreck.Set the clock. Get up when it goes off. Get ready. Go to work.

Quote from dudette10It ticks off the nurses--and rightfully so, especially for those who are chronically tardy--who want to report off to you and go home. Depending on how tardy the on-coming is combined with the waiting line to report off to other nurses, it may cause unnecessary overtime for the off-going nurses. So, the off-going nurses get griped at because of a tardy nurse!It doesn't really affect patients at all.

Chronically late people....can't stand it. How does it affect us...well, someone has to usually stay until you get there, or give written report to the charge nurse who has to pick up your patients until you get there. If we have a lot of kids going for procedures then that is NOT fair to the off going staff to have to get your kids where they are going and you stroll in and hang out for a few hours until they come back. Things get behind then...babies don't like to wait to be fed. We have a point system, so if you are late 5 times you get written up, 10 times you are toeing the line, 15 times you could get fired. That kind of solved the late issue.

Quote from MISSMOLLY325So being late doesn't delay patient care?? I have to write a paper and since I don't work as a nurse and am not familiar with how the day flows, I am trying to get opinions from all of you experienced nurses. Thank you for your help! Also, can being late for your shift be considered negligence to the patients?

It builds suspense and makes for a dramatic entrance.

however, it's common courtesy, not to mention unprofessionalism to be late, specially when you're reliving the night shift

Quote from AltraAre you referring to being an hour late because you didn't set your alarm or some other circumstance which causes major lateness ... or the chronic condition of clocking in at 7:04? No, this is not negligence ... you have not assumed care of any patients, therefore there is no breach of duty in the legal sense.

I hope the night shift RN gave you cab money too