Reports between nurses and CNAs

[Cuddleswithpuddles]

Hello Allnurses people,

For nurses in acute care floors, do you give your CNAs report on your patients like skin issues, I/O trends to look out for, what particular findings to communicate right away etc.? What issues do you highlight for all patients?

For students, CNAs and other hospital workers, do you think most staff nurses and CNAs communicate well with each other?

In my experience, nurses and CNAs who make formal reports to each other are in a very, very small minority. Most I have seen keep to each themselves and assume that the other has it handled and knows what's going on.

I was really surprised to see a nurse give a formal report to a CNA about a fresh admit for the first time. It's great. I wonder why the heck isn't this more common (at least in my experience)?!

[JDZ344]

We get full report from most of our staff nurses.

[JDZ344]

I wanted to add that it's common in my hospital here for the NAs to take report WITH the RNs at the start of the shift. I don't know if that is everywhere, or just our place, though.

[lemidora]

I am starting as an NA on an acute care burn unit in a couple of weeks and the unit manager has told me that she likes for nurses and NA's to have a mini meeting at the beginning of the shift to discuss what needs to be done for the patients because it eliminates a lot of confusion down the road. I am hoping that's true because I think it makes everyone's job a lot easier. Personally, I have yet to see the nurses give NAs reports in my clinical rotations but that might be because I have only been on general medicine units so far.

[Poi Dog]

Report is relayed to the oncoming CNAs and nurses by the off going CN at my facility.

[kool-aide, RN]

At the start of my shift I usually get report from the dayshift CNA which is usually a bare minimum report: from the CNA I really just want to know the activity level of the pts and how they're using the BR, BSC, bedpan, urinal, etc.

When I ask the nurses for report, I want to know why the pt was admitted and any other Dx, activity level, what they're doing to void, any drains/catheters, diet, accuchek scedule, and v/s schedule.

[seashells2011]

At my facility it depends on the nurse who is coming on duty. Most experienced professional CNAs sit in with the nurses as they give report to one another. Other nurses prefer a one on one report with the CNA. Personally, I prefer if the CNA participates in the report from nurse to nurse. Where I work, the CNAs are irreplacable, intelligent, dedicated and more caring than some of the nurses (with exception of course).

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

When I worked inpatient, we had RN report for the shift overlap while the CNA's answered call lights and took vitals. Then when the dust settled, CNA's got report from each of the RN's with whom they shared patients- who needed a second set of vitals, diet, safety needs, etc. When we got post ops back or did a new admit there would be ad hoc report. All part of being on the team! I thought that was typical.

[Orange Tree]

Our CNAs are welcome in report, but they choose to give report to each other and get started with the day/night. I always seek out the CNA for my patients and go over anything I feel they may not already know (new accucheck orders, recent change in diet, NPO at midnight, etc.) and emphasize what I feel is extra important (more frequent turning for a patient how has developed a small pressure ulcer, etc.). I also let them know about any "big" things we need to do together (like a complicated, time consuming dressing change) so that we can make a rough plan of how the night's going to go.

And as soon as I get report on a new admission, I give report to the CNA so we can both prepare.