Change of shift call lights

[abbaking]

During shift change (both for RN's and CNA's) the call lights seem to ring alot. If I am near it i will answer it or go in the room and see what the patient needs. I used to be a CNA so to me its no big deal and also its irritating to hear the bell going off.

Other RN's/CNA's will not answer the call lights for anything. Sometimes the red emergency bathroom lights do not get answered in a prompt timely manner.

Our unit secretary helps out but he is tied up with data entry, phones, etc.

So, call lights go un-answered and they ring ring ring.

The nurse manager has a new idea. Let the RN's continue with verbal report but have the CNA's write out the report and BRIEFLY go over any critical information. This will allow the CNA's to cover the floor and answer the call lights.

Does this happen where any of you work?

[clemmm78, RN]

We always had one staff member assigned to come in a half hour later and leave a half hour later so he or she would cover the call lights. It didn't matter what your title was, RN, assistant, whatever. If it was your turn to cover, you covered all the lights. Period.

[chasingmydreams]

In our facility the CNAs change shifts 1/2 hour before the nurses. By the time the nurses come in the CNAs are already on the floor working and answering call lights. Seems to work great!!

[MacSplooRN]

At my job, we are fortunate enough to have enough people around to answer the call lights. But a lot of times we are ready to get out of there and the call lights are not answered in a timely manner and also we are finishing up last minute things. It just seems to always get busy around that time for some strange reason.

[IowaLPN]

A.M nurse and CNA's come on at 6. I tape a detailed report for the nurse. While she listens to that, I give a less detailed "live" report to the aides. By the time I'm done with that the nurse is done listening to the tape. She can ask me questions or clarify things and the CNA's can go on and start their morning tasks. Works GREAT for us!

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Just curious, but does your facility do hourly rounding? My facility does hourly rounding and it really seems to minimize call lights. I also try to check on all my pts 30min or so before shift change if things are too crazy so that I can address any last minute pain med needs, bathroom requests, etc.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We do hourly roundings on the floors and it does help. I thought that and no taping of reports was a Jch mandatory thing.

[OttawaRPN]

Just curious, but does your facility do hourly rounding? My facility does hourly rounding and it really seems to minimize call lights. I also try to check on all my pts 30min or so before shift change if things are too crazy so that I can address any last minute pain med needs, bathroom requests, etc.

I make a point of doing this as well, but it's inevitable... there will be a little ol' lady who has to get up to the BR NOW even though she was just there, or someone who wants their pain meds NOW even though they refused earlier. Murphy's Law. The majority I work with don't bother rounding, so if it's their bell going off and I'm too busy, I consider it their problem.

I answer my bells as long as it's before shift's end, even if there's only enough time to assist them to the BR and tell the oncoming nurse "Mrs. X is in the BR." During report, I focus on report, not on bells, by the time that's over, it's way past time to go home and pt is now someone else's responsibility.

[jerenemarie]

What I'm used to, & it works great, is the team leaders tape report. Then they are available on the floor until the next shift listens to the report. The nurses aids make rounds together (days go with pm, etc) so they can get report from them & also the call lights get answered, etc. The team leaders tell the nurse aides on their shift anything pertinent they need to know from the taped report!

[sistasoul]

What about bed alarms? I work with RNs who will not get up to answer a bed alarm. It is so awful. I don't care who is in report when a bed alarm goes off. It is more important to get interrupted than to have a 95 year old lady on the floor with a broken hip.

There are some really great ideas here. At our next unit meeting I think I will bring it this up.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I make a point of doing this as well, but it's inevitable... there will be a little ol' lady who has to get up to the BR NOW even though she was just there, or someone who wants their pain meds NOW even though they refused earlier. Murphy's Law. The majority I work with don't bother rounding, so if it's their bell going off and I'm too busy, I consider it their problem.

I answer my bells as long as it's before shift's end, even if there's only enough time to assist them to the BR and tell the oncoming nurse "Mrs. X is in the BR." During report, I focus on report, not on bells, by the time that's over, it's way past time to go home and pt is now someone else's responsibility.

I agree that once I start report I focus on giving report. However, I am not sitting there ignoring background sounds. They simply aren't alot of call lights alarming. One here, one there, but not alot, and it makes for a very quiet work environment.

[KarmaWiseRaven]

You know this is BS and i will tell you why, Everyone and I mean everyone i don't care if your God if you are on the floor. You yourself is responsible to answer any and all call lights even the housekeepers. They might not be much help but they can find the people to help and guess what that would be you. Yes you sitting in report the Aids can't do everything passing the buck on to them is a joke this is how lawsuits get started by family members just waiting to get one started. Changeover reports can wait. What you going to a fire? You have a hot date? Want to get home to family? Well so do the people you care for sad thing is they can't go home you can. You are there for them they make up your paycheck so I'm sure 5 mins of your time in your busy life of doing report so you can run out the door can wait. Passing it on to the CNA's only and yes that's why they are there to cover the floor and do a walking changeover but they can only move so fast and they get swamped with call lights themselves. Really like your report is more important then theirs No we all play a roll and who's to say who's report is more important. Were a team out on the floor. Team Work people Team Work. Please take time and answer the call lights an once of prevention is a pound of cure ( God sound's like i use to be a ADON wink ) These are my thoughts use them as you wish....