Best way to do change of shift report?

Specialties Management

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I would certainly like to know from others how they complete the change of shift report in your facilities and what way you think works best. I've tried walking rounds a long time ago, taped report, live report to the entire oncoming shift, 1 on 1 report, etc. I know some facilities subscribe to this telephone reporting system. Do you have the techs coming on listen to report too? Would love to hear your ideas. thanks.

We tape our reports. The whole team is supposed to listen, including our PCT's. We often have to tell the PCT's to come listen, especially if they are floaters. It's best to know what's going on w/all the patients-I like the tape because it leaves you free to tie up loose ends, and you can always give a verbal update.

Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

Our report is face-to-face, with the offgoing charge nurse reporting to the oncoming licensed staff. The CNAs report to each other and do walking rounds while report is going on. It was determined that when CNAs sat in on the main report, most of the things discussed were outside their scope of practice and expertise. The CNAs requested the change. The charge nurse briefs the CNAs after report on anything from report that might be relevant to them (collecting stool or urine samples, etc.)

I have worked in places where report was taped, and I didn't care for it much. The oncoming shift may not have the same patient assignments as the offgoing shift, and nurses have to listen to more than one tape. There is no opportunity to clarify information at the time it is presented (meaning you have to find another nurse or two after report, when they are wanting to go home), and some people just do not give a good report (lots of irrelevant information, leaving out key points).

our reports are taped. either our manager or the charge nurse for the shift tapes for the whole unit after receiving updates about what happened during the shift. if their is a change, we can add it to the tape or give a verbal update.

Specializes in Everything except surgery.

When I worked at the VA hospital one of the few things I like was, that charge nurse on the unit, got a report from all the nurses, and reported to the oncoming shift via tape. The oncoming staff then listened report all at the same time. We usually were always out on time, and it insured that everyone got the infomation needed.

I think everyone should know something about all the patients on the unit. It bothers me when I go into a pts. room to answer a light, while their nurse is busy, and I know nothing about them. And sometimes CNAs will be on the floor, and not be aware of a new admit......or one returning from surgery, or changes in a pts. orders. I think everyone knowing a little something about each pt. is the best and safest way, even if the report is beyond a CNAs expertise. I think having them listen to report helps make sure they receive accurate information on all the patients.

Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

If ours had all been on one tape, that would have worked much better. As it was, the facility I worked on was on 12-hour shifts, and there were fewer nurses on the night shift. The assignments invariably overlapped. Each nurse taped report separately, and there were four different tape recorders. One morning I had to go to three different rooms to get report on my patients (five here, one there, two somewhere else).

Like your VA facility, each nurse reported to the charge nurse, but this information was shared only with the oncoming charge nurse. It was not given to the rest of the staff.

we have a general report with the oncoming shift. The charge from the leaving shift reads but it will be general things like admitting dx, if they are vented,gtts they were on, and if they are needy nellies...hehe, pertinent diagnostic testing, age, gender, medical hx. We try to limit it to about 10 minutes. Then we have a bedside report with is face to face with the leaving RN and we often go into the room and show them this assessment finding, etc if need be. Our PCTs sit in on general report but not bedside. We generally have one or two pts so this can work.

I prefer taped reports to face-to-face. Invariably, with face-to-face reports, I get stuck with someone who wants to critique my shift instead of simply hearing about it. Irks me to no end.

Specializes in Mostly LTC, some acute and some ER,.

How we do report is both of the nurses from the shift before give the reports of all of our patints to the oncomming nurses and the CNA's too. We all meet in the report room 15 minutes before the shift, and discuss what halls we have and us CNA's discuss what thet are going to do, and determine hall parters and talk about the plan for that day and set goals of when to have are patients up when to have them down and when to do cerain showers. I think it works out good.

Handover is given by the Charge Nurse or Ward Sister at our hospital at the beginning of the oncoming shift. All RN's and NA's attend. I have worked in one hospital that did handover at the patients bed side, I didn't like this as I felt it was breaching patient confidentiality.

Handover is given by the Charge Nurse or Ward Sister at our hospital at the beginning of the oncoming shift. All RN's and NA's attend. I have worked in one hospital that did handover at the patients bed side, I didn't like this as I felt it was breaching patient confidentiality.

taped report works well. we have been forced to ono to one. plus you have to write a report for the charge to give one on one, what a waste of time! plus, you have no idea what is going on with a pt you may assist while someone is on break. and usually, the time of verbal report is so busy that you miss something , unlike if you are able to choose a time in between busy spots to tape.

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