Bedside Report?????

Just wanted to hear from the ER nurses out there. Do any of the institutions you work for require giving report to the oncoming shift at the pt bed? The hospital I work for is trying to get nurses to do this, but it is meeting huge resistance. I for one don't care to do it either. Anyone else?

We tried it in one ER where I worked. It didn't last long. It took alot longer to get report done. We also tried giving out business cards with our names on them to every patient. That didn't last long either. Both things were an attempt to get our Press, Ganey scores up. There are good rationales for doing bedside report, but it just didn't work out for us.

I can see this as a problem because even though the patient has a right to know, some things discussed in report could lead to problems. Most specifically in abuse situations, how can you report off to another nurse that you suspect abuse in a given situation without creating a scene? Then theres rape cases, shootings, anything like that would take a private discussion away from the patient and away from the family in order to discuss important information that needed relayed. I personally can see this as a huge problem.

We used to use a computer handover, where we were at the nurses station undisturbed.... that worked fine. Then they tried bedside, but getting the right people at the right place and stopping family members from standing beside us became a problem since they don't automatically have a right to information without permission. Now we are trying a handover in the seminar room, which is fine, except it means that every shift ends up staying later than they ever did before the nurse taking over arrives and finds out what has been done and needs to.

I prefer a short computer handover, then a nurse to nurse handover myself!

There was a really big push for us to do this in our ER, but no matter how management tried to convince/bribe/force us to do it, the nurses didn't want it so the idea eventually trickled away.

I can see two good things about bedside reporting.

1- You're less likely to pass judgement to another nurse. How many times has someone told you "This patient is a pain in the butt. He's a drug seeker, does this this and this...". Bedside reporting would help cut down on the unnecessary stuff.

2- Ever get one of those nurses who leaves you with tons of crap to do because they like to sit and talk, or because they just can't manage their time well? This could help cut down on the "Hey, I need to hand this, this person needs a line, etc...". Kinda makes you feel like crap, you could be doing it as you're giving report!

However, sometimes you do need to talk about folks (abuse, some things that just shouldn't be said at bedside but need to be known by staff). I think it has a few perks, but isn't the best way. -Andrea

We do bedside reporting. I am new to the ER, so I like it. I'm not sure how I would like it if I was a 20 yr veteran...some of them are a bit resistant. Management is very much behind the movement and we get a tap on the shoulder if we start report in the nurses station. Most of the patients appreciate the visual "handoff"...if anything, it gives them an idea of who to yell "hey nurse" to, LOL.

I've had no problems with confidentiality,etc. We will introduce the next nurse and do report at the bedside. We've had no problems with family members. I have asked the patients a few time if they wanted so and so to stay. I have not yet encountered a rape or abuse situation, so I'll update when that happens.

Just wanted to hear from the ER nurses out there. Do any of the institutions you work for require giving report to the oncoming shift at the pt bed? The hospital I work for is trying to get nurses to do this, but it is meeting huge resistance. I for one don't care to do it either. Anyone else?

We were giving bedside reports, however many nurses are conflicted with this practice. It's very difficult to maintain patient confidentiality and obey hippa laws with a bedside report. In our facility we have some semi private rooms impossible to give confidential report. Our facility has open visitation 24 hrs a day. Many times family member are visiting at change of shift.

We give verbal one on one reports but not at the bediside.

I did a travel assignment that when i was hired it "was required to do bedside report" haha once i got there we never did it once.........ahhhhhhhhhh

I honestly think it's a good thing.

I also agree with alot of what Anroo has to say.