Shift Report

sometimes the nurses that want such a diligent report, are the ones that don't assess their patients, and should you work a 16h shift, they are the ones parrotting back the same information you gave them 16h ago!!!

linda

really how many packs did they smoke? why didn't she ask you what color eyes the patient has? just as relevent

I have 17 years experience icu, ccu, psychiatry, ed and mgt. Also, I have several degrees. All around, nurses will want to tear you down to make themselves feel better especially when they feel threaten especially by older nurses such as ourselves that are smart, have had other careers, and education. My best advice to you for shift report is this: Concentrate and what you are doing when you give report. Don't let the person rattle you. Continue to keep your train of thought through her charades and state the facts about the patient for the patient's sake and welfare. If the pt is on the floor for more than three days, go back three days. Give a short short synopsis of why the pt is on the floor, the surgical procedures the patient has received. The highlights only for those three days athat are significant such at arrhythmias, codes, blood transfusions and number. Then tell in detail presently what happened in your day. What condition your patient was in at the beginnning of your day, what you did to help his condition, if the conditions worsened or improved with treatments and meds. What iv treaments received and continues. What equipment is presently in use or needs to be used on the next shift. What orders that are outstanding that the next shift need completed. And, the condition that you are leaving the pt in, such as nsr, a-fib, knee immobilizer in place, etc. Then ask, do you have any other questions for me? If none. Document that you gave report to the on coming nurse to his or her satisfaction.