We use the SBAR format at my hospital and I do my best to keep the SBARs updated, but there are just some days I barely have time to pee or eat, let alone update an SBAR form. Usuallt this is not much of an issue since as I am giving report I can erase and fix whatever needs to be updated sheerly by memory. Unfortunately, some nurses are extremely difficult to give report to and while I like that they are helping me understand their thought process, I end up feeling like even though I had a pretty good day, I still feel like I still failed.
I guess what I struggle with the most is just being able to stay caught up. I feel like I am just spinning my wheels a lot of the time.
Have any other new RNs encountered this? How do you/did you deal with it?
just remember a few things....you have been with the patient the entire shift not the oncoming nurse. so stay relaxed and you be in control of the report......if interruptions bother you......tell the oncoming nurse to let you finish...that is how i did it and pt by pt...i gave report on one pt..then they can ask questions..then we move on to the next. you control the tone of the report...no nastiness allowed...do not allow criticism or it will keep on coming.....if you have made an error that someone points out do your best to rectify it...if a more seasoned nurse has some constructive advice....take it gracefully. you will get better at this..just remember that the ongoing nurse needs and wants that report it will make his or her shift start out a bit easier if they know what is going on. i always established rapport with oncoming nurses by doing a good deed...for example.......i always had the next iv bag hanging and ready to go if the volume was getting low...or if in the middle of report a my patient needed pain med...i would say "let me get that for them be right back ". keep your rooms neat and organized..your pts with minimal pain and their needs met so in other words give great nursing care and the nurses will love to get report from you
very good advice! also, be sure to mention to them that you did it! i.e. "pt x has lr running at 75 ml/hr, the bag is almost empty but i left you a new one with new tubing hanging on the pole." be sure to take credit for your good deed! :)
I have worked as a traveler and a nurse for ages and you will get the nurse here or there who is difficult to give report to. They interrupt or ask non-relevant questions or want some minute detail that does not have anything to do with patient care. Funny thing is these are usually the nurses who give crap reports.
I the basics and anything missed or I should be looking out for. Depending where I am the emphasis is in different areas.
I recently worked and ICU where the night nurse had the same assignment for three days in a row. When she came back after my shift I gave her the new orders and told her what the plan was for the patients. She started to have a snippy attack, because she insisted we go system by system even though I told her there were no changes . You get thoes kind from time to time. I just try to go with the flow, no need to even worry about it.
These are really helpful tips, thank you!! Will definitely take credit for what I have done (I always try to stock the computer on wheels and make sure there's no IV bags about to run out); I will be sure to mention those things when I give report from now on!
I've been a nurse for 25+ years and I love giving report. It means my shift is over and the patient is someone elses problem. The answer to the next shift giving you a hard time is just get crankier than they are. If the answer is always " if you don't like the way I got things done, it's your patient now- do it however you want" or the ever popular " I guess that is why we have 24hr coverage- so if I can't get everything done- there is always the next shift- I'm glad you're here!" Sooner or later thay will get the picture that your goat is is the barn and they aren't going to get it. You just have to learn to quit leaving your goat out where they can get at it.
While these answer work comming from an experienced nurse- it's definately not a good approach for a new nurse proving herself.
When another nurse is a pain about report, I don't put up with it. We have one who constantly interrupts with a thousand questions. Ex- me "mr x came in with STEMI and his last markers were..."
Rude nurse: "what were his markers! What rhythm! Iv?" like a little yappy dog without letting anyone else speak. I put up with this once. The next time, I told her I don't play "20 questions" and she could either listen without constant interruption or I would give report to the other nurse and return to her when she could act professionally. She tried to do this to everyone. Another nurse was also sick of it and started grilling her with questions before she could get out a word. It stopped the behavior and now she LISTENS to report and asks questions afterward.
This was an extreme case, but you could easily stand up for yourself even as a relatively new nurse by saying something like "I have my own preferred means of giving report just as you do. I will be glad to answer your questions when I am done speaking.
I absolutely dread giving report and I think it's because all these nurses have their own way of how the want to receive report, some want every detail others want little as possible, some come in cranky as hell, some are not trying to hear anything you tell them. I'm tired of trying to adapt to each nurses' rules and attitudes, I give my report as normal...sign off...take it or leave it and I'm going home knowing I did my job.
yetanotheramanda
152 Posts
very good advice! also, be sure to mention to them that you did it! i.e. "pt x has lr running at 75 ml/hr, the bag is almost empty but i left you a new one with new tubing hanging on the pole." be sure to take credit for your good deed! :)