Introduction
The bedside shift report (BSR) allows important patient information to be transferred from one nurse to another. This tool is necessary to ensure the continuity of care, as well as preventing potential errors and adverse events. It is reported that BSR “improves patient and family satisfaction, nursing quality and patient safety better than the traditional hand-off outside the patient’s room” (Jimmerson et al., 2021, p. 1394).
Discussion
BSR is beneficial to both patient outcomes and patient satisfaction with care. McAllen et al. (2018) report that units where BSRs have been introduced are also seeing increased nurses satisfaction as they recognize the value of the practice for patient safety. Additionally, it does not take long for nurses to complete these reports, which does not negatively affect their opinion of the practice.
In my organization, there is a traditional approach to shift reports. However, given all the benefits of BSRs, this practice should be implemented in more hospitals. Their main advantage is to improve the quality and safety of care, which is important for patients and nurses. In this regard, the resistance that may be encountered in the process of implementing this change should be based on the articulation of the value of BSR for patients and their families.
Conclusion
Caring for patients, their families and achieving the best patient outcomes is a priority for nurses. Managers need to not only work with their objections, but also use evidence to explain what positive changes the introduction of this practice can lead to. One of the objections of nurses is that the completion of BSRs can be interrupted by questions from patients who are in the room (McAllen et al., 2018). Perhaps managers should pay attention to such aspects and offer relevant solutions. However, this practice can also positively influence the establishment of trust between nurses and patients who can observe the work of a professional.
References
Jimmerson, J., Wright, P., Cowan, P. A., King-Jones, T., Beverly, C. J., & Curran, G. (2021). Bedside shift report: Nurses opinions based on their experiences. Nursing Open, 8(3), 1393-1405. Web.
McAllen, E. R., Stephens, K., Swanson-Biearman, B., Kerr, K., & Whiteman, K. (2018). Moving shift report to the bedside: An evidence-based quality improvement project. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Web.
