RN's giving report to CNA's?

allnurses Guide · Jul 11, 2009

That's not a good thing at all! Can't the CNA's report off to each other? There needs to be some kind of system in place for everyone to be able to receive a decent report! Perhaps you can suggest something.

I've seen it done different ways. CNA's reporting off to each other, or CNA's and nurses both receiving a report from the RN of the previous shift.

On the unit where I currently work, the whole reporting system is also very very disorganized and there are nights when I don't even get a report. The good thing is that I work with kids, all of whom are generally very healthy, but it's nice to know when one of them has a medical condition and sometimes I don't find out until I look at their chart.

Penguin67 · Jul 11, 2009

When I was a CNA, I used to pass linens and fill water pitchers (back in the day when you could take the water pitcher out of the room and fill it) when I arrived, then sit in on report. The information given in report was important for me to have during my shift. If there were two CNAs, often the floor would be split and we'd get individual assignments from the charge, but we were expected to help in ANY room at ANY time. Usually, if I had any questions, I could look at the care kardex. (Again, I am dating myself here.) The point that I am trying to make is that report is important, as you could figure out what your day would look like, and if there was alot of CNA work, the charge nurse boiled it down for you into your individual assignment, as well as another CNA's assignment and anything tht the nurse had to do. It worked quite well. And as you can probably guess, this was around 20 years ago. Ah, the good old days!

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jul 11, 2009

I always tried to give a brief report to the techs. Report is a critically important tool for all the staff to ensure safe, quality care. If this is not a part of your routine, you can be a leader and just start giving report to the techs and tell them why you feel it's important. Doesn't have to be an official thing, just start doing it and watch how it develops. I'll bet that the majority of them will thank you and hopefully, it'll catch on.

coffeeaftermidnight · Jul 11, 2009

Over ten years ago I worked as a CNA on med/surg. If we were working a 7-3 shift we had to be there by 6:45 to receive report. Everyone (RNs, LPNs and CNAs) was required to be there for the report from the other shift's RNs who would just alternate coming in so the floor was covered. I couldn't imagine having to do my shift without receiving that report; it determined what patients I needed to do I/O's, who had caths or drains, who needed vitals q4, who needed accuchecks. . .the information was extremely needed and I based my duties and schedule throughout the shift on what was said.

out2years · Jul 11, 2009

The CNA"s usually gave report to each other, but If it was a new assignment I would give heads up on the confused, bed alarms and 24 hour urines , need for stool, and fluid restrictions and diets. It also depends on the CNA some have so many patients,I once worked were the CNA"s had a load of 24 and nurse had eight pt a piece so she only took vitals passed water and ice and occasionally answered lights. But the CNA's should be able to give report to each other.

just my:twocents:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2009

Our techs don't get report from the nurses, but there is a part-computer generated and part hand-written report that the techs look at the prior to going into the room and it has all the information you stated in your post on it.

Beverage · Jul 11, 2009

Our hospital prints a cardex for the CNA's. Oncoming CNA's must go to each room with outgoing CNA, introduce themselves to pt and get report for every room directly from CNA who is finishing shift. Seems to work well.

dblpn · Jul 11, 2009

At my old job I was used to giving a quick report at the beginning of my shift to the CNA's on the floor(med/surg) about my PTs.
This would include: reason for admit, mental status, bed alarms, how they get OOB, bedrest orders, incont, foleys, drains, urine/stool samples that needed collecting, etc.
My new hospital there is NO report what so ever. The aids don't even give report to each other! They just wing it. I discussed this with the CNA's and they are frustrated with it too but say the nurses don't have time to give them report.
I think this is totally unsafe and was just wondering how other hospitals deal with this.
Thanks for your feedback!

I totally agree with what you're saying. i'm a CNA and there's been lots of times that i've came on a unit and got NO REPORT! i think it's the most stupidest and not to mention unsafe thing to do. everyone is responsible for the pt's they are given and we're supposed to work as a team. i don't mind getting/giving report to the oncoming CNAs, however; it is the nurses responsibility to make sure i get updated info about the pt's becuz things do change quickly. afterall CNA's work under the supervision of the RN.

AnnieNHRN · Jul 11, 2009

Thanks for all your comments. I have only been at this new job for a little over a month and am trying to tread carefully with creating "change" in how things are done. There is a staff meeting next week and our manager wants us to speak up about issues we think can be improved. I know I have to be careful, as the new girl, expressing how things can "improved" on how things have been done forever on this floor.

This is a very busy unit and I am thinking about the best/most efficient way to improve the communication between the aids and RN's. Maybe they could print out a census with the previous shift RN's filling in important info next to names and having the CNA's give report to the CNA with it at the beginning of the shift? I also think our Meditech could be set up so that it could print more of a "Kardex" for the CNA's.

Something needs to change. I think I might just bring up the subject with my manager before the staff meeting and see what his thoughts are.

AnnaN5 · Jul 11, 2009

On our unit the RNs give report to the oncoming RN and the CNAs give report to the oncoming CNAs. I personally catch my CNAs and give them a quick overview of the patients we have together. Let them know their diet, mobility, any lines, VS orders, accucheck orders, any procedures they will be going for. I do not know if everyone does this but I don't like to rely on the previous CNA giving my CNA an accurate report. If something doesn't get done right then that ultimately comes back on me so I want to make sure everyone is on the same page.

SaraO'Hara · Jul 11, 2009

We have a CNA "cheat sheet" with the alarms, mental status, any precautions, etc, printed by the space for the patient's vital signs. If anything changes throughout the shift, I let the CNA with whom I am working know. For instance, we might take away an alarm because the 72-hour monitoring period has elapsed without the patient attempting to get up unsupervised... add a bedside commode because the patient is having loose stools and is now on "C-diff precautions" (infected until proven otherwise). CNAs do walking rounds at shift change.