How long does report take?

yannadey, LPN · May 13, 2003

With 42 pt. walking reports at my last job (LTC) takes 15-20 minutes if I had a smooth night if it was a busy night 45 min -1hr.

sbic56, BSN, RN · May 14, 2003

Originally posted by dawngloves
Are you getting report on the whole unit??!! If so, why?
On a good day report takes 15 minutes, half hour tops. On a really good day, (stable babies w/no changes and same nurse is coming in that gave me report) five minutes!

Just curious how many do not need to hear report on the whole unit. I can't imagine not hearing on everyone, but I work in a birthing center and it would be very confusing to not have a basic knowlege of what is going on, as there is always some interaction with most all of the pateints even if they are not assigned to you.

SmilingBluEyes · May 14, 2003

I get report on all the couplets/patients on birthing unit in 30 minutes. That is PLENTY of time to get the FACTS we need to know, IMO. I dont believe in fooling around in report. TOO MUCH TO DO.

dawngloves, BSN, RN · May 14, 2003

Unless you are charge I've never seen a place where you heard report on everyone. Not Tele, Adult ICU or NICU and I 've done agency at several hospitals. Now if I was watching someones pts while they go to lunch I would get a 5 minute report, but I can't imagine hearing report on 30+ pts and expect to be able to keep track of that info.

RNnites · May 14, 2003

Thanks for the help. I think we probably spend too much time gossiping and using "report" as a way to avoid doing any work at the end and/or beginning of the shift. I will try to make constructive suggustions to my boss to fix the problem.

sjoe · May 14, 2003

4 or 5 minutes for 15 patients. What on earth are people talking about that would take 90 minutes? An MD visit wouldn't take nearly that long!

A report is not a complete historical biography of each and every patient, including all possible scraps of gossip about her/him (and about the caregivers involved AND family members) but just the basic facts and most relevant changes since last report that are NOT already written elsewhere--boiled down and succinct!

sbic56, BSN, RN · May 14, 2003

Originally posted by RNnites
Thanks for the help. I think we probably spend too much time gossiping and using "report" as a way to avoid doing any work at the end and/or beginning of the shift. I will try to make constructive suggustions to my boss to fix the problem.

Indeed. Get a bunch of women together and gossip runs rampant! I think 30 minutes is PLENTY regardless of what is happening on the unit.

sbic56, BSN, RN · May 14, 2003

Originally posted by dawngloves
Unless you are charge I've never seen a place where you heard report on everyone. Not Tele, Adult ICU or NICU and I 've done agency at several hospitals. Now if I was watching someones pts while they go to lunch I would get a 5 minute report, but I can't imagine hearing report on 30+ pts and expect to be able to keep track of that info.

There is no charge where I work, so perhaps that is part of the reason why we all hear the entire unit report. It has been the same in all the places I have worked, though. Maybe it is more of a regional thing? Not sure.

P_RN, ADN, RN · May 14, 2003

What we did was a written report handed over by the team leader to the entire oncoming team. All three teams got report at the same time in less than 10 minutes. The entire off going shift was available to catch call lights and bedpans for the 10 minutes. Almost always everyone got off at a reasonable time.

The "old" shift would print up a census or tech sheet or whatever that had the name, dx and doc's name....we'd write in IV, surg & date, I&O etc, and make a copy for each oncoming member of a team of 10, and 1 copy for whoever was in charge.

It would take maybe 5 minutes to write in 'cause you had your copy of the one you were given.

Then any serious matters were taken to the bedside by the off going team leader and the oncoming team leader......serious meaning.....fresh post ops.....blood transfusions...epidural patients.....mainly to do a quick catch, but also to assure that the new nurse saw the patient right away.

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10371&highlight=report

This is from a Sept. 2001 similar question.

MandyInMS · May 14, 2003

On our med/surg floor of 25-30 pts , we use taped report which takes from 30-45 minutes.We hear report on all pts, and then assignment is given based on accuity of care.I prefer getting report on all pts to have a basic knowledge of diagnosis ect.Many times Nurse A gets tied up with one pt for a long time and another of his/her pts needs something during that time.Good to have a general report on all pts to give good care to me.

In ICU we give verbal report taking 15-20 minutes depending on severity of illnesses ect..this is more frustrating because of 'gossiping'..I'm ready to report and get the heck outta thereee...lol.

On Geri-Psych takes maybe 10-15 minutes tops depending on pt load..also given verbally.

A 1.5 hour report is unreallllllll...I know on med/surg at least, we are to begin report @ 6:30 and start our shift by 7:00....outgoing shift leaves at 7:00 reguardless if we are finished report or not..sooo we HAVE to be done by then, barring an emergency .Before we started taping report it took FOREVER on med/surg...usually wouldn't be able to leave until at least 30 minutes post shift end.Management got tired of payin all the extra OT and started the taped reports...lol

fiona K · May 15, 2003

I am researching how handovers are done.

We currently do them at the nurses station but this has its problems and handovers are not consistent. Where do other wards do their handovers and is the content always consistent??

fiona K · May 15, 2003

General points. Where do people give report??