Shift Report

Tape it. The last 2 places I worked, we taped it. Then the following shift could get it when they were ready. Night shift did not have to wait for everyone on the next shift to get their coffee, greet co-workers, etc. Tag, you're it! If it was 7am and everyone was stable and everything pressing completed. (we did not have a 1/2 hr shift overlap) If anything significantly changed after taping, we would leave a note about what changed ON the tape recorder and quickly tell the oncoming nurse. Some times it is a little difficult when something you wanted to know wasnt mentioned, but most of time time it could be looked up in the chart or notes. I can see how it can encourage unfairly "dumping" undesirable tasks on the next shift, though, since you don't have to be face to face. If you work somewhere that people are pretty fair about doing what is expected, it works well. It cuts down on interruptions and can get the last shift out of there. Simply hit the stop button, go do what ya gotta do, and then hit play again when you are ready, instead of everyone being held up waiting. For me to tape on 8ish patients, it would take me less than 10 minutes. If we tried doing it face to face, it ended up being over 1/2 hr.

We actually do face to face report at our hospital... I do like this better because I can ask questions as I go. With taped report I had to take the time and listen, start and stop the tape to write down things and then after listening, go and track down the RN for updates and further questions... We have a 30 minutes overlap and usually this is enough to get the reports done...

Taping report is going out of style... because it is dangerous. What if the nurse misses something?

Face to face report is the only way to go these days. With Joint Commission breathing down your throat it is the only safe way to go.

The way I do it is this....

I have a sheet that has

CV:

Neuro:

GI/GU

Skin:

New orders:

Labs:

And I will try to walk through each room while the nurse gives me report. I usually have a clip board. That way I can see the patient and I might see something she missed.