Do you consider it helpful or not to be given a Pt’s attitude during a report?

[DesiDani]

Or the visiting family members? Do you welcome it or do you find that it prejudice the report (does that make sense?). If you feel that a patients or family demeanor is important to pass along during a report, how do you word it?

Let's say you neglect to mention that a patient makes derogatory comments to you. The family member watches EVERYTHING you do like a FBI probe notes, names, and all. Would that lack of info matter to you?

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Knowing the current attitude and behaviors of the patient and family members is very valuable information. It gives me an idea of how I should approach things, and what I should look out for. It also lets me know if they're making progress (remember, I work in psych).

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I always appreciated knowing what I was up against with a certain patient or family. That way I knew I was going to visit that patient first (after making sure my other ones were breathing and not on the floor) and spend some time with them at the beginning of the shift. I'd go in and introduce myself, then ask about what the patient's goals were for the day; I also made sure to answer their questions and reassure them that I would be responsive to their needs. More often than not, this would reduce call light use and undesired behaviors. It's amazing how investing a little time in a difficult patient at the start of a shift can help make things easier for a nurse.

Of course, it doesn't *always* work; there are some issues with a patient and/or family that have absolutely NO solution and you're just going to have a miserable shift. But it's worth a try.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You are spot on that it is prejudice.

I, myself.. did not want/ need to hear it. If there were issues, I would pick up on it quick enough. The outgoing nurse could have had an issue with the family/ patient... that may or may not develop during my care. In this day and age.. I always assume I am under survelliance.

Been there, done that , many times.

[Susie2310]

You are spot on that it is prejudice.

I, myself.. did not want/ need to hear it. If there were issues, I would pick up on it quick enough. The outgoing nurse could have had an issue with the family/ patient... that would not develop during my care.

Been there, done that , many times.

I agree with this, and this is my experience also.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I found it useful to be told that the resident had a tape recorder hidden in her nightstand drawer that she activated when she turned the call light on.

Would you have done anything differently?

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

As I was in psych then went to med surg I usually get hey we made sure room 4 was in your assignment

[NurseCard, ADN]

I honestly would rather not get that in report because I find that it

does make me prejudiced towards them, without even getting a chance

to meet them first. So I vote that it is not helpful.

Edit: I would want to know about any BEHAVIORS such as

touching, hitting, spitting, etc.. But as far as attitudes.. no.

Don't want to know.

Also... not trying to sound superior, but I do work in a

smaller hospital with a slower pace so I can do this.

I try to approach EVERY new patient that I meet, as if

they might report me if I do or say anything out of the

way. YOu know? I try very hard to be professional

and clear. Maybe it's built-in paranoia.

[MunoRN, RN]

I honestly would rather not get that in report because I find that it

does make me prejudiced towards them, without even getting a chance

to meet them first. So I vote that it is not helpful.

How do you feel it makes you prejudiced?

[NurseCard, ADN]

How do you feel it makes you prejudiced?

well... is "prejudiced" the wrong word? I don't want to develop an opinion of

my patient and thus have it possibly affect how I'm going to treat them, before

I've even walked into their room. I would like to kinda develop my own

opinion of their attitude, motivation, whatever, based on my own

interaction.

I mean, if someone tells me "Mr. Bob is a really PITA", it SHOULDN'T

affect how I'm going to treat him or change anything, but I feel that that

is unnecessary information... I don't need to hear that.

[Crush]

As long as it is kept professional and to the point. Such as, " Patient gets upset if you mention xyz." or " Patient prefers their pills crushed in ice cream and will spit them out if you give it in yogurt. " I also like to have a heads up on family dynamics such as family writes everything or family demanding. Or if patient has been demanding so I can either set limits or something else.

[DesiDani]

I meant prejudice the situation. As for maybe it is the nurse or caretaker. An observant caretaker should know when a patient/family is acting nice to her/him, but is suspiciously off putting to other staff. And it may not be because that other nurse personality clashes with the patient/family. They may not like the nurse because she is foreign (little side remark such as "does she know English?). Race, they direct questions to the white CNA and not the black RN; while she is in the room. 2nd language people who talk about other staff in another language, expecting the leaving nurse not to pass that along.

So just because an interaction is pleasant doesn't mean the care team doesn't see through it, if it is a fake facade.

[Ambersmom, BSN, RN]

I do report stuff such as a patient who is ultra controlling, family members who are the same or who record/watch/question everything. I believe it helps me (if the one getting report) or the oncoming nurse come up with a game plan or not be blindsided. Often, in my experience these controlling patients or families can be downright hostile and no-one should have to walk into that blind. Basically, in report I try to include anything that will help take care of the patient more effectively/ the patients likes and dislikes about care, and anything about the family that will foster a better relationship, ie, they ALWAYs ask about metaprolol, even though he's been on it ten years.

You'll be surprised at important some mundane info can be, I once had someone report to me how the patients wife was constantly eating most of the patients meals, or he'd give them to her. When we investigated further it turned out the wife was using all her money to come to the hospital, and had no food at home, the only food she'd been getting was off hubbys tray. we made sure she got a tray or sandwich. Some of the things I mentioned, like controlling patients or families, etc can be very helpful to help getting early msw or psych consults early. jmo