Getting patient information before shift

My hospital just started strongly enforcing nurses to not login to a patient's chart unless you have clocked in (7 min before start of shift). It hasn't been a big problem for me since I usually come into work around 6:50 or so. However, a lot of other nurses are having a difficult time with this and are trying to go around it (e.g. gathering the patient's info from the previous shift's logged in computer). We also just started bedside shift report and the oncoming shift doesn't know much about the patient before report and it can get pretty lengthy if you have to explain pmh, h&p, assessment, etc. The nurses have gotten pretty frustrated with it lately and bedside report isn't consistent anymore. I was wondering what other hospitals have implemented for nurses to gather information before the start of the shift without clocking in or have it considered "working off the clock." I have read that some hospitals record the report on a tape or have a kardex. Any other suggestions?? Thanks!
I think it's working off the clock. I get to work about 1820, then get my assignment and get report. I don't see the point of giving free labor--anything I'm doing as part of my job, I'm getting paid for. I'll get report then check labs and orders. It works for me. Our reports include the things you mention and can usually be done in about 20 minutes for 5-7 patients. Of course there is the one nurse who gives such a detailed report, you could do your initial assessment off of it alone. . Her reports take forever.

I think it depends on where you work and how you get your assignment. I work in an ICU. We are split into teams. Each team gets a group report and hears the basics of each patient on their team. We get a small spreadsheet of information on all the patients that includes their docs, what they were admitted for, drips, vital sign info, and frequency of some labs. From there, a team leader makes the assignments and we pick or are assigned by the team leader. Then, we go and get report from the previous shift for our patients. Combined, it rarely takes longer than 30 minutes, but we also have 1-2 patients. At the end of our shift, we update the spreadsheet for the oncoming shift. Here's an example of info on the spreadsheet:J. Smith, 35MFull CodeTruma-Dr. Ortho11/12-to ICU L pneumo/rib 3-8fx's, open pelvis fx, OR-ex fix on pelvis, intubated 11/13 BLE dopplers (-), 10 beats VT 11/14 trach'd at bedside, start feedsHR: ST 110s Temp: afeb BP: Keep MAP>60 Resp: VentFoleyOG to LISIV: Fentanyl, Precedex, Levophed, MIVq4h H&H, q4CVPsHistory: hyperlipidemia, OSA (CPAP)Then say at the end of my shift, my patient had a temp and went for a CT, I would change the sheet to reflect that. I really think the sheet is great and makes going through report much faster. The sheet is saved on one computer so everyone can always see it. Then you never lose the medical history or what the patient has had done during their course of stay. Makes things SO easy!!!

My mum is an RN at a private hospital and handover for them is they dictate it and the next shift listens to the dictation. They are now implementing bedside hand overs but they don't have a nurseatient ratio so for a med/surg ward with a 3 bed HDU as well and the average number of patients is 1:6-7 and they're all old 10mins to do a full handover isn't enough

No advice, but I am impressed at how ready to start the day these nurses are! I would love to be the shift reporting off to a nurse who has already gathered some information.I just read a post about nurses taking breaks first thing in the day and cruising the internet. What a difference in unit culture.

i think time should be alotted to look things up. report takes 20-30mins without interuptions (rare). many reports are less than useful. i like to read latest md notes, look at orders, meds and charting before i see that patient.

I like having information down on a patient before report. Work hasn't given anyone any problem that I know of for nurses coming in early to get such information.

From what I understand they do not want you to log into a patient's chart BEFORE you clock in. That is because you are not officially on the clock and as we all know the computer leaves a trail. So,legally you should not have access to the chart and protected health information until you are working with that patient or have a reason to be in the cart. That is why you never want to clock out and then give a prn med or even continue charting for that matter. You should never use anothers log in either unless that person is physically there. So if nurse A is giving report to nurse B and you are scrolling through the cart together that is OK So now the problem...you will all have to adjust and those that want to get a little jump start can clock in at the 7 min cutoff. I think by the time you waste keeping up a Kardex that can easily be incorrect you could have got report. We have the same system and I never log in to a patient's chart until I have signed in . On a few occasions I have had to provide patient care after I have logged out and then had to log in. I also never log in during my lunch break

So many nurses come in early pouring through charts, and clock out only to return to charting. I am thankful to be blessed with time management skills, also growing up in a union home I learned never ever work for free at work.

We have pt care summaries which automatically print about an hour before shift change. They show name, DOB, admission date, dx, attending/consulting MDs, most recent VS, activity, diet, upcoming labs or testing, list of orders since admission date, & current meds with the most recent administration time. I rarely feel it necessary to log into the chart until after I've received report; it usually only happens if report gets delayed because RNs trying to finish up with pts. Also, most of us don't show up until about clock-in time anyway. Much earlier than that & pt assignments probably won't be up yet.

If you are not officially "clocked-in", not only is being in a patient's chart equivalent to working for free, it is quite possibly a violation of HIPAA.

Quote from nursie_nursie_415If you are not officially "clocked-in", not only is being in a patient's chart equivalent to working for free, it is quite possibly a violation of HIPAA.

I'm amazed at people that WANT to work for free. Hospital doesn't pay me to prepare for my shift? Then I won't be prepared.