Grrr... Report!

[JustaGypsy]

I have been out of work for about a week now, tonight being my first night back. My relief was waiting to get report, as I finished up on my last patient. You know the drill, rapid a-fib, IV, o2, monitor, EKG, cardizem IV, etc. So, when I finished doing basically everything so that she was well setup for the beginning of her shift, I go to the desk to give her report. I am midsentence, literally!, when an MD comes up to the desk. She turns around, with her back to me, "Hi Dr. Lollipop, blah blah blah," all chatty with how nice it is to see him, how handsome his tie is, WHATEVER. Meanwhile it is almost 2320, and I am exhausted as I had pneumonia/bronchitis and probably went back to work too soon. So I say to her, "Can I finish giving you report before you get too chatty?" She is obvious displeased that I interrupted her conversation, then interrupts ME while giving her report, at one time even saying, "Okay, that's all I need to know. On to the next one!" At which point I said, "no, it's not all you need to know. IV's in, o2 in place, EKG done, all secondary initial assessments done, cardizem 20 mg IV given, VSS, patient being admittied and Dr. Cardiology in seeing patient at this time." Again, after this statement, obivous displeasure. And so I continued with the rest of assignment, again with her attempts to have me tell her the bare minimum. Sorry, Gypsy don't play that game. I was so irritated by her response I could barely stand it when I left. Thanks for listening!!!

[skittlebear]

Sorry you had to go through that. That was rude!!! I liked how you stood up to her though.

[Miss Mab]

Sorry you had such a tough hand-off, especially with still feeling sick. Truly....but I think you may have been sending some mixed messages as well.

The oncoming was rude to interrupt report to say hello and whatever at which point you clearly (and rightfully) expressed your desire to finish without all the unnecesary chit-chat. Then you describe a patient that Er types DO "know the drill" as you called it. She got the gist, you presumedly weren't about to hand off any extra out of the ordinary A-fib protocol info--unless you left that out? Didn't sound like it. I would expect(and quickly clarify) all the rest was done, wouldn't you?

Perhaps she was just trying to help you get out of there--y'know, w/the assumption you'd give relevant report, and which she could ask questions if she wanted. I don't get what "game" you, Gypsy, don't play? Focused report?

I don't know, I really am sorry this person was rude and obviously I wasn't there. Just from my perspective, when I report off I go through relevant info and always ask if they have any addtl. questions before I go on to next because i am short/situational and to the point.

Just like it might be annoying to you to want to say all there is NOTHING I hate more than trying to start my shift and someone wants to tell me the psych/soc. details/20 yr. old abd. surgigal hx/dietary complaints on the r/o fx who will be d/c'ed shortly or whatever. NOT saying you do this, just my little peeve.....

Info that's pertinent and relevant? Of course, but there's also a very real reason why i don't like to work ICU :) I'm ADD not OCD, TYVM....

Anyway, unless this happens a lot with said nurse, I just wonder if she was actually trying to help you in her misguided way and there was just miscommunication. Sorry for the crap end of your night!

[Wendy_RN]

I wish report could always go well. Unfortunately, someone will always say you give too little or too much info. I have had to tell a nurse, "You really need to listen to what I am telling you." Of course she did not like it very much, but what I was trying to tell her was important. Hopefully she will not respond to you in that manner in the future.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Sounds like you handled it well.

Nurses like that are very irritating.

[nelcoy4]

This is why I love that my hospital does written (silent) report. I only talk if something happened right before shift change. I'm outta there as soon as I see my relief.

[MzMouse]

That was one of the many things I loved about taped reports. I could tape everything in peace without interruptions. We also handed off a written report.

[Scrubby]

I remember doing night shift and handing over to the morning staff one time and they all started chatting right in the middle of my handover. I just kept talking over them and they weren't listening to me, only cared about gossiping. I was exhausted, had a long and tiring 10 hour shift and wanted to get out of there. I did my handover even though no one listened and left. When I came on for the next shift one of the seniors tried to tell me off because my handover was 'incomplete'. I told her that if people want to talk during my handover that is THEIR problem and NOT mine. I am not going to waste time waiting for them to finish their gossip.

[SweetLemon]

that was completely inconsiderate and unprofessional of the nurse you were handing off to.

i love the part about her cutting you off mid-sentence saying that is all she needed. like you are standing around at the end of your shift feeding her unneeded information when you could be going home! not to mention saying something like that puts her and her patient at great risk if their really was additional information that needed to be passed along. " yeah mrs. n has now regained consciousness and is trying to get out of bed but she is at great risk of falling and needs to be watched closely"....sure she could read it in the chart...but if mrs. n falls before she gets to the chart she is royally screwed! yeah i would want to miss something like that.....

well sounds like you did handle it well... you were firm but did not become mean or abusive good job... hope u work with nurse less in the future...

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

here's the thing, you extended yourself on your end, even to the extent of covering any loose ends. you're amazing!

too bad, that that other rn was too into ego stuff to give you an apology for being so utterly unappreciative of you and your efforts.

you deserve better treatment when handing off your assignment. can you mention this behavior to a manager? whatever good that might do???

this is why i love that my hospital does written (silent) report. i only talk if something happened right before shift change. i'm outta there as soon as i see my relief.

:yeah:

i too am blessed that at my new work this is too the case; no more worrying about getting home on time. one dilemma to this situation is not being aloud to stay over. the manager is a stickler we be out on time. not a problem really, unless your shift was a hale storm and you didn't get to the computer to chart everything. oiveh!

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

I hated verbal reports as I had to look for too many nurses for report. And esp. don't like them done in patient rooms as then the patients interrupt with their questions and some things are better passed on without the patient present. There are the nurses who leave out important details, the nurses who talk endlessly, and the nurses who don't want to figure out anything for themselves and want you to tell them everything about the patient. Shift report done on paper is much easier, as then you only need to deal with additional questions, and you have time to think of those questions while reading report.