Usually you receive a great report from the ER when getting new admissions but here are some things I have learned the hard way to ALWAYS GET THE ANSWER FOR. Besides the obvious (vitals, history).
- Ask if there is an order for them to be on fluids. I have been yelled at by an MD because the patient did not come UP on fluids. Make sure they get it started in the ER. Especially if they have been sitting down there a while and the order was written some time before they come up.
- What was the patient's O2 saturation? I've had someone come up with a sat of 86% on room air and a heart rate of 125 and I was told they were perfectly fine downstairs. (I know things can change fast, but come on. They were pneumonia pathway and I should have thought to ask this ANYWAYS).
- Is the med recon form done????
- What meds were given and why.
What else can you think of to add that you have learned?
We fax report at my hospital too. I ALWAYS wait and then call to 1) make sure the fax went through and someone noticed it was there and 2) ask if the receiving nurse has any questions.
There are many times I have something to tell the nurse, but did not want to write it on the report. For example, something that still needed to be completed, family dynamics/ problems that happened in the ER, anything that had occurred that was out of the ordinary.
I know when I work the floor, I appreciate this type of report. When I work in the ER, I try my best to help out the floors.
Yes, I have had a couple of nurses do that and it was extremely helpful and appreciated. Those family dynamics are biggies, we really need a heads up sometimes. And sometimes the written stuff is just not clear enough. Thanks on behalf of all the receiving nurses!:loveya:
As was stated above, the ER marches to the beat of a different drummer than the floors. My ER has a hand-off sheet that we usually fill out before we call report to the floor. Goes through the pertinent hx, dx, orders, labs, results, what got done, what didn't get done (nope, he didn't get that 10am lipitor) and anything else that might matter. Seems to work very well.
Mahage, LPN
376 Posts
Yes, I have had a couple of nurses do that and it was extremely helpful and appreciated. Those family dynamics are biggies, we really need a heads up sometimes. And sometimes the written stuff is just not clear enough. Thanks on behalf of all the receiving nurses!:loveya:
Mahage