Giving report at the end of your shift can be nerve wrecking but it’s also really important. You need to be able to condense all your hard work during the shift into a few minutes of face to face time with the next nurse.
Remember how you wanted useful information when you took over the patient load?
Well, so does the oncoming nurse, so let’s give them the same respect. This post will help you with some key points to remember when report time comes around! Keep in mind a informative report, makes for a smoother transition for your patients.
Here we go . . .
1. Be ready! Of course some days are chaotic and you’ll be running around at the end of your shift trying to get things done, but try not to make this a habit or usual occurrence. Instead make it a priority to get your tasks finished before the next shift shows up. Just like you hate waiting around the nurses station for report, so do they! So remember to prioritize your work load from the start of your shift, reevaluate when needed and ask for help from your coworkers or unit manager if need be.
2. NEVER leave unfinished work . . . That you could have or should have finished. This may be calling the MD regarding lab work or sending a culture to the lab. It could be following up with family members or transcribing new orders. Whatever it is take care of it before your shift ends because it’s rude to pass along tasks to the next nurse that happened under your care. This bad habit can undermine teamwork. If your shift was hectic and you do have work that is unfinished complete it before leaving, but give report first so the next nurses isn’t wasting their time and then their shift runs behind. Try to use common courtesy with this one!
3. Restock. No matter the setting you are working in, always restock your area. Do not leave patient rooms low on supplies or messy from your shift, make sure you clean up after yourself. It is your responsibility to leave a clean and restocked working space, so please make sure you find the time to do so. Don’t make another nurse hunt for supplies if you took the last one. Remember teamwork goes along way!
4. Pass along the important information. During your shift you should have a working report sheet that you can jot down your notes (ie: Last pain medication given, IV medication times, Significant Lab values, etc) so when report time comes along you can pass along the real important information to the next shift so they know where to begin. It’s frustrating to come on to shift, be told “everyone is fine” and then have lights ringing out of control for pain medication or beeping IV’s. At the time of report it’s convenient to reference your report sheet, the shift can be chaotic and you may not be able to remember all the details that need to be passed along by memory! So if you haven’t found a report sheet that is working well for you, then head on over to my past post “The Three Steps to being Organized” to help you find a few suggestions!
5. Move out of the way. After you have given report their might be loose ends you need to tie up, maybe charting or follow up phone calls, but please make sure you don’t take up work space form the oncoming shift. They need to plan out their shift strategies and don’t need to be working around you. Simply find a small space out of the way to complete your tasks, report anything further and leave the station. Finding working space seems like a fight most shifts anyway, so don’t add to the dilemma.
And there are the five simple tips to help you get through your report smoothly and hopefully hassle free! Everyone is different, and you will learn what certain nurses find important to them during reporting off, which will help scale down your report. And while some workplaces require bedside reporting or walking rounds, you can use these tips as a starting off point to keep your thoughts organized and report on track.
The most important take away from today’s post is The Golden Rule of nursing, which is to “always leave your patients the same way you would want to receive them”. If you keep this in mind you will go along way with showing your fellow nurses you care about teamwork. At the end of each shift make sure the transition from one nurse to another is smooth sailing for the patients, they are our biggest audience that we need to impress and to make sure their needs are met with quality care.
So remember to . . . Be courteous. Be a team player. Be prepared.
Happy Nursing!