How do you give next shift report?

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  1. What method of shift report do you use the most?

    • 14
      Written
    • 35
      Tape recorded
    • 122
      Verbal

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What type of report method do you use the most?

Hello!! I'm Oliver from Spain.

In my country we give to the next shift a verbal report, and also we have to write a report in each patient folder when we finish the shift. In some units we also use the computer.

I have another question for you guys.

How is a normal day in your shifts? what do you do first? Where I've been working, usually we have to prepare the medication for all the patients first, then we have to cure/dress (I don't know how to say this) all the wouds, IV sistems, to measure blood pressures, differnet nursing activities, etc. then to give out all the medication, and at the end of the shift to write everything (to make a report)

So, What do you do? I'm really scare about to start working in this country and I would like to know if everything here is very different.

Thank you all and I'm sorry for my English.

By!

Your English is much better than my Spanish. No apologies necessary! I take it that English is not your primary language; being bilingual will make you very marketable in this country. It is something I'm aspiring to myself!

Everything you described is pretty much what is done by nursing staff in the US also. If my patients are more unstable I'll make rounds first and then pull morning medications for administration. Actually I recommend this for any unit, better safe than sorry! Although I have admittedly pulled meds first if I'm familiar with all of the patients and they're all stable.

Nurse's take off orders the doctor's write, but I suppose that's included in the nursing activities.

I think you'll be fine. What state will you be working in? A good thing to do prior to working anywhere whether it's another country or not is to read your area's nurse practice law. Very important.

I would also recommend knowing the state's labor laws. Unfortunately I learned this one the hard way!

Good luck!

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To answer the original question. I last gave a verbal report, but I prefer a combination of verbal and taped. I say taped because it serves as a record (albeit temporary) in a way...

So yeah. Preferably, I'd tape my report and make myself available to the oncoming nurse for any questions. I usually hang around 15 to 30 minutes to finish paperwork anyway!

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We do written report but we'll go through a general handover verbally stating the importance and highlights. Afterwhich we'll handover to the assigned nurse thoroughly by following a handover checklist. :nurse:

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What type of report method do you use the most?

Hello,

I am a nurse from Bulgaria.In my country we give written report about shifts and also talk about some patients with more severe condition.But everything must be written.

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