I am a newish nurse on an ICU floor that's finding it difficult to give report to a few particular nurses that do not seem to listen during report. These nurses will either space out, look behind my head during report, or look around and have me repeat what I had just said. There are some that seem disinterested in what I have to say about the patient and kind of just don't care.
How do you deal with nurses that are like that?
I want to be able to give report without thinking the incoming RN is going to be uninterested or not listen to important things I have to relay. I don't know if it's a personality type or maybe they think that I'm new so they don't have to hear what I say, but most people have been respectful so far. It's just been a few here and there.
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
I don't care at all if they don't want to listen. Used to be insulted but now I don't take it personally. I know my report is good, and maybe they already looked up all they want to know and just want to start working, maybe distracted by something else, who knows. One older nurse from ICU when she floated to our Stepdown side was famous for not listening. She would do bedside report and be already writing her name on the board, doing her vitals, introducing herself... She kind of listened to first minute or so, then said, "OK I'll take it from here, go on home!"
I usually got out 3:30 or later depending on who I gave report to, but with her I got out around 3:03 (one minute for each pt). Loved giving her report! I think you'll get over feeling insulted, but if you think it might affect pt safety because they didn't look stuff up AND didn't listen, maybe ask them if they have enough info, see how their pt care is and escalate from there?
Hit the main points which should take 1-2 minute/s top uninterrupted. Some new nurses will have trivial details e.g foley fr size, IV gauges etc. If she is not listening stop and ask do you have any question? If not, that's where my report ends.
I had an old coworker that would drive me crazy if I had to give her report. She would spend like 5 minutes drawing a line down the middle of her page, and then had to slowly write the full patient name on each side.. I would give report in the "typical" standard of the unit.. "The patient is alert and oriented x4...".. Then a split second later "how oriented is the patient". The patient is NPO. "What diet is the patient on"... To top it off, she was also one of the whiny nurses that would cry over every patient assignment if it wasn't "Fair". No clue what to suggest, I think sometimes I said "Just ask me what you want to know".
Me getting report was usually pretty quick and easy, but I would usually ask relevant questions that people didn't know the answer to. Like "They have a history of cancer" (I'd ask, what kind/where and when, or if they were getting current tx.) But, sometimes 30 seconds is fine, the patient is alive... LOL. hopefully...
In my 4 short years of nursing, I have learned that sometimes you have to find out how these people want their report given to them. Some want it short & sweet & to the point. Some want as much detail as humanly possible right down to the useless information. & honestly if someone isn’t listening to me I will just stare at them & be silent until they start to pay attention.
But I would just start out by asking how they want it?? If they have a snarky comment, you just know that you aren’t going to ever change that nurse & don’t let them ruin your day.
I give my report in 2 ways I always give a verbal report and a written report. I work with a nurse who wants a very detailed report but when she hands off to the next shift she always gives the same answer “I don’t know “. It has become standard for me and the shift that reliefs the nurse that always answers I don’t know now just used my report. I should mention the nurse who answers I don’t know to any question never charts anything either.
If you are new it might take a little time but learn how different nurses like to receive report (short, sweet and to the point, or more and what info). Start there, might also save you some time too.
Sorry I respectfully disagree. Especially for newer nurses, but really all of us should have a standard way to give report so as to not miss important information. Standardized report sheets for the unit are often beneficial for all staff. Preprinted is great as it save time... just fill in the blanks. Don’t have to write it all out. Start with name, allergies, reason for admit, Hx, brief review of head to toe body systems/pain, tubes & lines, gtts, labs, plan. Family info. oncoming nurse asking questions re what you already said? Say, “like I told you before...”(answer question) then jump right back to where you were. I also will stop talking if I see they aren’t paying attention and wait for them to notice. Then ask if they are ready to finish with report.
good luck with your newish job!
I just had this happen last night. It is usually an older "more experienced" nurse who does this. They want to simply look at the notes and don't care about my experience with the patient. I find this arrogant, but I am not sure what to do about it. I guess if they know so much, I'll just stop talking.
I just had this happen last night. It is usually an older "more experienced" nurse who does this. They want to simply look at the notes and don't care about my experience with the patient. I find this arrogant, but I am not sure what to do about it. I guess if they know so much, I'll just stop talking.
I think newer nurses don't understand that once you've worked with a patient population for awhile, it really can be much easier to look it up yourself. It also prevents you from relying on someone else's information about orders and discovering later that they were wrong.
I definitely listen to report, but I may not write every little thing down. I'm not sorry that I am a dual certified in my field and have been there nearly a decade. I give and prefer to receive report by exception - I don't need to be told they're a full code, lungs are clear, on room air. EMV = 15. I assume they are unless told otherwise. I don't really need report on things like medical history, physical assessment, etc, either because I will read the H&P and do my own assessment. I do like to know little idiosyncrasies that don't translate well over EHR. You won't likely find a doctor writing a note about the patient preferring their big pills cut in half or wanting applesauce instead of pudding to swallow them, but knowing that before you head into the room with pills makes it smoother.
DeeAngel
830 Posts
Catch them not listening and ask them to repeat what you just said. Repeat as needed.