Bedside/Face-to-Face Shift Report

[FONT=Fixedsys]I have been told to develop a method of bedside shift report for our 34 bed medical unit. If any of you work in a unit that does this, I would appreciate any advice you can give. What are some of the problems, time considerations, benefits? This switch will be to meet JCAHO's 2006 goal of improved "hand off" communication. Thanks!!
At several facilities I go to (I'm agency), the outgoing nurse has a "cheat-sheet" with any vital info about each pt jotted down on it. The sheet is photocopied with each pt's name, room number, and MD's name on it. Accuchecks, VS, ABT status, O2 rate, appetite, labs, med changes, etc are reported on this sheet. We just walk from room to room, check alarms, and I'm made aware of each pt's status. It's really nice to put a face to a name when you're new at a facility too. Hope this helps.

We do it where I work on all the floors. It is very nice because you can say, okay, this is soandso, this is what the IV looked like, this is what the wound looked like, these are the fluids running,etc.We use cheat sheets also....they have a place for treatments, O2, meds, labs, etc. All the things we need to pass on. If we know we are following the same person for a day or so, we just pass the sheet along. Our floors found that it went faster than taped report...no stopping the tape because you couldn't understand it, or the usual jibber jab that goes on during report.

Something we wondered about at our facility is if you do bedside report, how do you keep confidentiality in a semi-pvt room? I'm interested in suggestions.Thx!Becky

Quote from beckyboo1Something we wondered about at our facility is if you do bedside report, how do you keep confidentiality in a semi-pvt room? I'm interested in suggestions.Thx!Becky

Right now, the charge nurses do face to face report with a book. It has spaces for VS, I/O, assessment, rhythm, etc. The caregivers do a face to face verbal in the station. So far, it works for us.

Sounds like the best way to me! I just can't see how a truly accurate handover can be given at the bedside - especially if it can be overheard by a room mate! Or, as in some UK hospitals virtually the WHOLE ward

Thanks for the input! We currently do live reports in our report room. If anyone out there is doing report at the bedside how does it work for you? Does is save time? We have a 1/2 hour report now. How are nurses getting through a face-to-face report when they may have to give more than one nurse report, depending on who's replacing them? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Quote from Northwest_RN_4 Thanks for the input! We currently do live reports in our report room. If anyone out there is doing report at the bedside how does it work for you? Does is save time? We have a 1/2 hour report now. How are nurses getting through a face-to-face report when they may have to give more than one nurse report, depending on who's replacing them? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Quote from AgnusNot at the facility where I am but I have done these in the past. Very favorable. I prefer them. Yes they are time effecient. In fact it tends to take longer giving face to face away from the bedside because the nurse tends to talk about a lot of irrevelent stuff and rambles and even spending time on thiings that have nothing to do with the pt.

Thanks again, my greatest concern is the time factor involved in having all nurses give their own report to the oncoming shift. My boss is sure this will be the perfect fix to report going over, but I still have doubts about the time factor being any shorter than it is. Any more suggestions?

We do "bedside" report on our huge bed unit. At first I was skeptical, but now I love it. The patients love it!We have all private rooms, so confidentiality isn't an issue. It is a good time to check iv sites, drips, the patient's mental status, pain, and room cleanliness. We've had nothing but positive feedback from patients about our bedside report. It gives them a chance to "be in the know", and be introduced to the oncoming nurse. When my patients are happy, i'm happy. I don't think it takes any more time than giving oral report at the nurses station.

I have found that a mix works better for me. I get report at the desk, but then ask the offgoing nurse to accompany me into the pt.s rooms for a quick check. It's a great solution, as often things like "distended", "confused", and 'lethargic" can be better defined.