All I really want to hear in shift report is pretty much the basic patient info, precipitating reason for admission, areas of medical concern, meds & treatments, and current status.
I don't give a rat's rear if the reporter likes or dislikes the patient, thinks the patient acts like a two year old, or believes the hospital will not be reimbursed for services. (We just discharged a patient who had been there for 5 months.)
Ever get any useless information in your shift reports?
All I really want to hear in shift report is pretty much the basic patient info, precipitating reason for admission, areas of medical concern, meds & treatments, and current status.
I don't give a rat's rear if the reporter likes or dislikes the patient, thinks the patient acts like a two year old, or believes the hospital will not be reimbursed for services. (We just discharged a patient who had been there for 5 months.)
Ever get any useless information in your shift reports?
I really do not miss that part of shift work. Useless info drives me crazy. Just tell me the pertinent stuff, the rest I can figure out myself. The last thing I wanted to do was listen to someone yack/vent about nonsense and then put me behind in an already crazy morning. Save the venting for someone who doesn’t have to run like a chicken with their head cut off for the next 12 hours.
It also seemed that the staff most guilty of doing this would leave out something that I would really like to know about prior but they didn’t bother to mention it-like a drip that require frequent monitoring and titrating. Got this kind of thing dropped off from the ER only to find out the the line had been pulled out, dripped into the bed (hopefully-not free flowed in to patient off the pump prior to them ripping it out) and since it was never documented in the computer I didn’t know when they started the drip to begin with. Always fun way to start/end a shift with a new admit with surprises and no one to answer the phone for clarification. Of course they made sure to tell me the patient was a hot mess prior to transport but the little heads up would of been nice with the cardio medication drip.
Yeah, when report turns into a powerpoint presentation.
I try to customize my report to who I am giving it to. Some nurses want a powerpoint presentation and then ask more dang questions, like I want to give this report and get the heck out of here please!!!!!!!! I like a simple straight forward report, but also I may add a bit such as "you'll like this patient, she's sweet". I know I like to hear some good news once in awhile myself.
One more reason to keep it short is that there is always someone being rude, demanding and interrupting which makes report last even longer. Oh help, I'm just gonna die here and the next person that breaks up my report with, " when do you think they will be out of bed so I can take them to therapy" is gonna get their head bitten off. I give the evil eye! We are in report people!! Unless someone is dying go away!
patient preferences, and various diagnoses (beyond just admitting diagnosis) during report than have to dig around for it in the chart,
We keep this on report sheets, a form is started on admit with the usual stuff and we add to the original as we learn about them, of course the shift report stuff is handed over verbally. The charge nurse makes a copy for the on coming shift nurses when she does the assignments. I have had some patients with 30 plus DX and was not able to fit them all on, I mean it has to end somewhere right?
Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.
I'm fine with a little or a lot doesn't really matter to me, both types can hamper the start of your day so I've learned to roll with whatever I get. I also try not to be judgemental of the nurse giving report. Most nurses I've spoken with are self conscious and worry about what kind of report they give so I tend to be more forgiving.
What I hate is when at the beginning of report they say "You're going to have a terrible night!" Who wants to start their shift that way?
Once, after my annual physical, my doctor said, "Well, this is the part of the exam where I ask if you've been having any problems with ED." I was quite taken aback, but answered truthfully, "Well, their report's a bit sketchy, but I figure I'm going to be doing a full head-to-toe as soon as the patient gets there."
My pet peeve is them wandering in 5 minutes late with a plate of food, and apparently the obnoxious "cow chewing their cud" sounds interfere with their hearing or brain function because right after you tell them something they ask what it is …. hgb went from 9.2 to 10.1 after one unit ….. oh you gave blood? what's the hgb now?
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
4 hours ago, hawaiicarl said:
the obnoxious "cow chewing their cud" sounds interfere with their hearing or brain function because right after you tell them something they ask what it is …. hgb went from 9.2 to 10.1 after one unit ….. oh you gave blood? what's the hgb now?
Years ago when I was working night shift on a med/surg floor I was chastised by a nurse, who when I started report said, "you can at least wait for me to sit down", it happened that this nurse had been clocked in for 45 minutes and was getting ready for report all that time. She was there at 0630 and I was supposed to leave at 7, I started report at 0715, I didn't say anything but I sure as heck was perturbed and really really wanted to lash out. The longer I stayed at the hospital the less sleep I got due to a little kid at home. Some people have no clue.
NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN
1,599 Posts
I really do not miss that part of shift work. Useless info drives me crazy. Just tell me the pertinent stuff, the rest I can figure out myself. The last thing I wanted to do was listen to someone yack/vent about nonsense and then put me behind in an already crazy morning. Save the venting for someone who doesn’t have to run like a chicken with their head cut off for the next 12 hours.
It also seemed that the staff most guilty of doing this would leave out something that I would really like to know about prior but they didn’t bother to mention it-like a drip that require frequent monitoring and titrating. Got this kind of thing dropped off from the ER only to find out the the line had been pulled out, dripped into the bed (hopefully-not free flowed in to patient off the pump prior to them ripping it out) and since it was never documented in the computer I didn’t know when they started the drip to begin with. Always fun way to start/end a shift with a new admit with surprises and no one to answer the phone for clarification. Of course they made sure to tell me the patient was a hot mess prior to transport but the little heads up would of been nice with the cardio medication drip.