Handover in ED

I work in one of the busiest ED's in Australia (Perth). The department is designed to hold 28 patients but the are nearly always patients on trollies in the corridor. Often there are 8 or more with trollies side by side (5 inches between them). My concern is that we currently have a walk around handover so not only do the 11 patients in the corridor hear all about poor "Mrs Jones" so do others. The hospital does have a confideniality policy. What I am interested in is how do other cramped, overcrowded Emergency Departments handover between shifts.

thanks

Patrick

In this situation, I would just not do a bedside handoff- get report from the other nurse in an area that is not within earshot of the other patients- like a nurse's station, or the end of the hallway.

Our hall beds are spread out so when there is someone in the hall there isn't anybody close enough to hear most of the conversation. We also do not usually keep patients in the halls very long so if there is more of a private procedure or conversation needed we usually wait until a room is available.

Hi, I am Ozzie also, we tend to give handover to the nurse who will be taking over your beds. This is done at the nurses station hence confidentiality maintained. We used to all get handover for the whole unit which took forever and by the time we finished the pts would of changed!!!

The way our ED is set up, there is just no way to maintain total confidentiality - way too easy to overhear. :uhoh21:

I would suggest using the med room or something...