Bedside report/hand off

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

I've worked at places that have used that. A big plus, is that if anything is messed up, you catch it before the last shift leaves. The downside was being sure to be quiet enough so nobody else could hear....

KaksRN · Jul 25, 2011

yeah, it's required. no one does it though. as a new grad, I think i'd benefit from it. On the other hand, some nurses who do actually want to do it, try to do their whole assessment during the hand-off, holding up the out-going nurse. I like the theory but no one seems to like doing it.

athflying · Jul 25, 2011

We do it....not sure why nurse are so resistant to change, but I like it because you can catch things the other shift may try to stick you with. Also, I think it's a great way of seeing your patients...introduce yourself and let them know you will be back soon.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

Have done it in the past and like it. We are getting it up and going at my new facility. The downside is the nurse might try to do an assessment, but that should be known ahead of time that it isn't done at that time.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

We do it. We do a little quick outside the room report for any behind the scenes info. Like if the family has been hard to deal with or this or that is going on. Then we hand off in the room introducing the new nurse and saying anything the patient would like the new nurse to know or plans of care they are active in and stuff.

For my Sr. Practicum you just filled out these sheets and put them in a hanging file thing if they wanted to come ask you something before shift end they could, but most didn't. I didn't like that at all. I like interacting with the new nurse about the patient.

The cons I think are sometimes the oncoming nurse doesn't get that we are passing off important information. They want the entire health history, each and every lab normal or not. Things that they can go look up when they look up meds. I will tell you whats coming up in the next hour or anything important in that change of shift.

Our boss has finally said if it can be looked up in the computer they don't need to know it in handoff if it's not emergent because some nurses were trying to take advantage of it and not wanting to let the other nurse leave unless they had a 10 page report to give.

winter_green · Jul 25, 2011

How do you catch the "wrongs/mistakes" with bedside report when you haven't looked over orders and the chart??

StrwbryblndRN · Jul 25, 2011

I like introducing pt's and maybe turning/checking total pt's. But I am totally opposed to bedside reporting. Pt's interupt or may be confused and wonder what is going on, and some pt's do not want to hear over and over what is wrong. (The ones here for 2 weeks) Some pt's have not even been told their diagnosis yet. Not to mention the high anxiety pt's.

We would need to change our way of speaking so the pt is not confused or takes what we say as wrong.

Bedside reporting sounds good in theory only. IMHO.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

I like introducing pt's and maybe turning/checking total pt's. But I am totally opposed to bedside reporting. Pt's interupt or may be confused and wonder what is going on, and some pt's do not want to hear over and over what is wrong. (The ones here for 2 weeks) Some pt's have not even been told their diagnosis yet. Not to mention the high anxiety pt's.
We would need to change our way of speaking so the pt is not confused or takes what we say as wrong.
Bedside reporting sounds good in theory only. IMHO.

In my area that isn't really an issue (the confusion or not knowing their condition), but when the patient has been there a while then we don't go through the whole thing again if the nurse has taken care of the patient before, we just state anything new going on. Most of it is done right before entering the room. It works really well for us.

AJPHILLS · Jul 25, 2011

We have also started bedside reporting inthe ED approx 1 week ago today, I thin it's agreat chance to see your patient, correct anything that may need a 2 person assist (i.e. CODE BROWN), and quickly do a visual assessment for any emergent or urgent needs. Also the Slackers have to own up to their work or their lack of! We call our Program STEPPS

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

Bedside report is a corporate fabrication to show the "customer" how their care is being passed on.

It is part of the show of "EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE" It is neither plausible or feasible.

Enter a room... "hello, Mr. Smith, this is Nurse XYZ, she is your nurse now.

The patient is--

Confused

Sleeping

On the bedpan

Talking on their cell phone and could care less.

It is also a huge HIPPA violation as roommates or anyone around can hear private information.

Mags_RN, BSN · Jul 25, 2011

on my unit we give report at the rn station and then do walking rounds with the oncoming shift, then we can point out the drips/tubes/drains/sores whether pts breathing pattern or just the way the pt looks is new or not. but what administration wants us to do is completely different: they want us to give the complete report in front of the pt, absolutely everything in front of the pt. this has definitely not been happening. can you imagine " pt aox3, very anxious, on the call light every five min, family demanding, kind of lazy, poor prognosis ect.."