Do you ask questions in the middle of shift report?

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Just wondering, do you have to wait till the 23rd. patient before asking a question on pt.#4?

I have to catch them quick so they will at least attempt to find out the answer.

Obviously they didn't need the information since they made it to report without it. If YOU need the information, why do you need THEM to find out?

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Specializes in FNP.

Depended if I could get the information elsewhere. If I could, I didn't bother to ask, I just looked it up. If it was something I *needed* to know from the off going nurse, I'd interrupt and ask right then.

I generally liked them to tell me their tale and get outta my way, so I tried not to do or say anything that would drag out report any longer than it had to be. ;)

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

If I have questions, I ask, but try to wait until they are done speaking about that patient.

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Specializes in ICU.

If I got a question, I ask it. Right then and there. Don't want to forget, and while in the moment it will be easier for the reporter to answer.

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Depended if I could get the information elsewhere. If I could, I didn't bother to ask, I just looked it up. If it was something I *needed* to know from the off going nurse, I'd interrupt and ask right then.

I generally liked them to tell me their tale and get outta my way, so I tried not to do or say anything that would drag out report any longer than it had to be. ;)

Exactly! I hate long reports, especially if I'm the second nurse to go in for report. Sitting there watching the first nurse sit there and laugh and tell anecdotal stuff while all I want to do is go home is very frustrating!!

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I do not know which nurse is worse this one or the one who insists upon having every single piece of information possible about the patient. Um ya sorry have no idea when the 1st of the 3 picc lines he has had since admission was d/c ed and yes I acknowledge that I suck as a human being because I do not know this.

I'd rather have the anecdote report anyday over the nurse who wants to know every detail....

.Sometimes I just want to pick up the two charts thats designated for that one patient that is about the size of the yellow pages and just slam it down in front of this particular type of nurse and say here *fill in the blank* you can do a research paper on this patient by yourself for your shift but I havent taken any breaks all shift & I have about an hour worth of charting left before I can even think of going home to cook, clean, and etc.

And when I come back for report on the same patient...I want the report sheet typed up in APA format.

The silly thing is that none of that information is going to allow them to take better care of that patient and I don't think any doctor during a code is going to ask such questions.

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Specializes in ICU.

@Wooh: I work in CCU. I don't have time to look up stuff that should be said in report. That is what report is for.

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Specializes in Geriatric.

Thanks everyone!

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I ask right then, otherwise I might not get a chance to, as the reporting nurse is busy running out the door! I have a problem with nurse's giving report, but not really knowing anything. For example, they will tell me so-and-so had a CT, US, etc., etc., but have no idea what the results were. I have to catch them quick so they will at least attempt to find out the answer.

I wanted to state that sometimes it takes forever for the results to come back documented on the cpu charting system and along the way you forget because you are ripping and running down the halls for your other patients doing tasks....

So the off coming nurse is finally able to sit down to give report and he/she can only remember that this patient had this done and that done....I think the reporting off nurse did good unless something is fatal.

At least he/she let you know what procedures were done so you can check. You have 12 hrs to check reports, labs, and etc.

but then I thought about the possibility of being in an ICU setting....If you have one or two patients, there may be no excuse to why you shouldn't know the results to test done. So on that note, I will shut up.

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@Wooh: I work in CCU. I don't have time to look up stuff that should be said in report. That is what report is for.

If you don't have time to look it up because you're in CCU, how is it the offgoing nurse has time to look it up, since I'd assume the offgoing nurse also works in CCU?

Report is to get the critical information. Not every last detail. Report isn't a quiz show. Unless you're prepared to hand over some fabulous prizes, don't be a quiz show host.

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Specializes in Paediatrics.

Where I work we have to do bedside handover so we do the walk from patient to patient and report to the next nurse, how they are, medications etc etc. Parents (I'm in a children's ward) can enquire on things (normally fine sometimes irritating ^.^;; ) the nurses can scan the medication charts at the bedside, visual the patient and so on. While we do in the back room handover on sensitive issues, eg. Failure to thrive babes, custody battles, mental health or department of safety. Overally we're told we 'have' to ask questions on the report of that individual patient for improved safety and sharing of info. Well that's what we're told anyway, it's a Government inititive bedside handover and is mandatory across the state.

I have to say I dislike being quizzed on things like what Ca level do they have right now (I care for a 9 bed ward alone with an EEN assisting when busy, unless a lab is critical it just doesn't store in my head properly) so it just makes me feel like an idiot as I don't know the answer at that point in time.

But anyway answer to the question I think definately yes, if you ever need clarification on something ask then and there, I really don't think the reporter shall mind at all. Well I don't, not unless you're asking me what colour socks they're wearing today or something equally out there. ^.~ Even if it's the above lab question, in the end who cares, I like others will just have to admit that they don't know. We aren't perfect computers we can't recall everything.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.
@Wooh: I work in CCU. I don't have time to look up stuff that should be said in report. That is what report is for.

Not every.last.minute.detail will be given in report. Its impossible...especially when you have just had multiple patients to care for and now have to report off on. Details will get forgotten. It happens. And if they did report it to you, they could be wrong. People make mistakes. Its good to go back on your own and verify what you got in report was in fact. Its is just as much as your responsibility to look up any lab/tests/scan results as it was the off coming RN's, just as its both parties responsibility to look up and know the pt's history. If they don't have it written down then and there for you, then either a) ask them to help you look it up, or b) look it up yourself before you round on the patient and start your assessment. These results after all are pertinent to how you give your care during your shift too.

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