Report interruption

[vernRN]

After two miserable days in a unit I normally don't work on, I am attempting to give report. In the middle of my report, the newly hired RN starts asking questions. I snapped back, requesting to finish my report before answering questions. The nurse replied to me that she understood and believes everyone does report differently. I just grumbled, finished report, and left it at that. In my past experience, one listened to report until prompted for comments or questions.

[jlmb214rn, BSN, RN]

I'm glad to hear that other nurses are bothered by interruptions in report. Now, I am not so particular that someone can't pipe in when something is unclear. But like other people in the post have said, if I'm going to get to it, then don't interrupt. For example, at my facility we have a form that is used to report from. Most nurses give report by going down the form, filling in the blanks, and then doing a "narrative" type report on the patient after all the technical information (iv site, o2, etc) has been given. There is one nurse at my facility that is BAD about interrupting. I told her the name, the doctor, the diagnosis, then next on the form was the history. The pt had COPD. Immediately, she asked if they were on O2. Well, let me finish... I will most certainly get to that.

Or another time that a patient was here for a surgical procedure and had been NPO. I tell her that the pt was scheduled for 0730 and she asks if the consent is signed and has she been NPO and.... Well, yes. If you hadn't stopped me, I would have told you that already!

I feel your pain on this one.

Yes, report is interactive. I don't think that anyone expects you to just sit there and take notes and never utter a word. Common courtesy does apply, though.