Patient handoff

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

Specializes in Behavioral Health.

I am curious as to how others are handling change of shift patient handoff. Up until recently we have used a taped report by the charge nurse to convey information to all members of the oncoming shift. In order to meet JCAHO and CMS standards however we have recently begun doing a live report with each member of the outgoing shift reporting to the oncoming shift. The result is much redundant information and report taking far longer than the allotted 30 minutes. We are a 22 be inpatient unit with a milieu therapy model, therefore it is imperative that all members of the oncoming shift hear report on all patients. We have both RN and non-nursing staff. One dilema is making sure that pertinent medical information (labs, meds, VS etc) are accurately reported on the patients of the non-nurses without repeating information.

Any and all feedback/suggestions are welcome. We have been told we have to make this work. Right now it is generating a lot of confusion and anger.

We have been told we have to make this work. Right now it is generating a lot of confusion and anger.

How typical for mgmt to say "just make it work" rather than meet with staff to come up with a decent working model. :rolleyes:

/vent off

Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

As charge, I give live report on all pts. to oncoming shift, the RN's and techs are in the room. It does generally take from 15-30 min. depending on census..ranges from 18-38, there is no getting around it. I much prefer live report to taped....hard to understand, sometimes you need to verify something...etc.

Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.

I am not the RN, but we do taped report at our facility. It takes a good 30 minutes and all staff is present, RN, LPN & MHT's.

On the other hand LPN's are med nurses at the facility and we do face to face report with each other. I like it that way since it allows us to ask questions and get clarification.

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