My poor poor handover :(

[AussieKylie]

Is there anything wrong with giving say a 9 minute handover, when handover 8 patients during a 10hour nightduty shift? Thought processes are slower, speaking sounds slow too

I do struggle with doing handovers. I just find that some nurses on my ward, rather talk quickly on tape so their handovers are not long. In the meantime, I am not understanding what they are saying. With me, I might be just too thorough and feel that I do say the necessary but still long????

Pretty much in the end I DONT CARE but to some nurses they do.

How about any of you? Would like to hear how its going with your handovers.

[muffie, RN]

we don't tape any more

we write on the back of the kardex

another floor uses post-it notes

i have a saying : " 20 words or less ! "

[sister--*]

We tape. Our guidelines state that we are to pass on only the abnormals. I, however, find that we miss a lot that way that may benefit patient approach and care.

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

Yep, I'm really tired and need to go to bed. I read this thread wondering where was the hangover?

[monty moo]

Hi, Research indicates that many serious events occur due to poor communication and that handover is a critical time for accurate transference of information. Many hospitals throughout the world are starting to look at this area of clinical practice and implement change.

Sadly it can be something that is taken very casually - I like to think of handover as a transfer of accountability. That I know that the next nurse has the right information and has a clear understanding of the required care.

[Chloe'sinNYNow]

Hey all,

I am new to nursing and even newer to my facility. I am dumbfounded that if a report is scribbled onto an "informal" paper and paperclipped to the back of a Plan of Care for a pt, then the nurse is free to leave. 99% of the time they are gone the minute the hand strikes the minute on the clock and we never get a verbal or otherwise report.

This "report" w/ POC is SUPPOSED to be left in a 3-ring on the breakroom table, but more often than not it is floating about with the millions of scattered paper waste tossed about, never read although printed out and laden w/ Personal Identifiers.

Is this cause for JCAHO reprisal? How can this facility operate this way? I believe it may just be my unit. I just cannot believe the entire hospital operates this way. If I have questions I cannot ask the prior shift b/c they have left for the night. I'm supposed to get updated from THIS?!?!?! :stone

Am I just really green? Am I missing something? Like my mind??:uhoh21:

Thanks for the vent. And the forum to do so!

Chloe

[SoundofMusic]

We do our voice care report, and then we hang around to provide a verbal update. I find it works well, but many times nurses on our floor just don't get around to recording their reports. I find this really leaves out important info.

That said, we are asked to be brief and only report by exception. The history is recorded in advance, and we are not to repeat it or include redundant info. When I come in, I want to listen to report and get the handoff within 30 minutes on all my patients, so I don't have time for 10 minute recordings.

[JRD2002]

We still do face-to-face at changes of shift. We also sign off on charts as we go through any new orders. It is not uncommon for our reports to take 10-15 minutes for 6 patients. Many of the nurses I work with say that if I have a question after they leave to give them a call at home.

I would ask your oncoming nurses how they would like to receive report. If they are the type that want just the facts then you can probably cut down on your report time. On the other hand if they are the type that would like to know everything that is going on with the patient they are probably happy with how you are doing it. However, on the other hand...(that's three hands)...if you don't really care what they say and want to go home feeling good about your hand-off do it the way that makes you feel comfortable.