Incorporating Bedside Reporting into Change-of-Shift Report

Abstract

Communication failures during shift reports are a leading cause of sentinel events in the United States. Providing adequate information during change‐of‐shift reporting is essential to promoting patient safety. In addition, patients want to be more involved in decisions regarding their plan of care. The purpose of the article is to discuss how a stroke rehabilitation unit was able to implement bedside change‐of‐shift reporting to meet both of these goals.

Bedside Reporting and SBAR: Improving Patient Communication and Satisfaction

“…One of the biggest benefits is the oncoming nurses ability to immediately confirm the previous shift's report by visualizing the patient (Laws, 2010). Changes in patient status can more quickly be identified and oncoming nurses have a chance to ask questions related to discrepancies in reported information.…”

“…Researchers have found reports of inconsistency between information provided and the actual status of the patient (Laws, 2010). The evidence suggests that bedside reporting gives the oncoming nurse a chance for direct observation of the patient, and a chance to ask questions related to the patient status, and promotes accountability between shifts (Laws, 2010).…”

“…The evidence suggests that bedside reporting gives the oncoming nurse a chance for direct observation of the patient, and a chance to ask questions related to the patient status, and promotes accountability between shifts (Laws, 2010). The evidence supports that bedside reporting allows for verification of patient's ID band, rapid determination of the patient's condition, surroundings, and treatment which can lead to medication errors being caught sooner, decrease in patient falls and increase in recognition of a patient's status change (Popovich, 2011).…”

“…Bedside reporting reassures the patient that the nursing staff works as a team and knows the plan of care (Laws, 2010). Patients are provided with an opportunity to ask questions, clarify, and share information which makes them less anxious, more compliant with the plan of care and more satisfied because they know what things are being monitored throughout the shift (Laws, 2010).…”

Moving change-of-shift report to the bedside for UAP

“…2 The Joint Commission has identified specific National Patient Safety Goals and best practices that are pertinent to the process of bedside shift report. 15 Patient safety goals have tasked organizations with implementing a standard approach to handoff communication.…”