Introduction and Statement of the Problem
Bedside shift reporting occurs as one of the most pertinent concepts in the context of health care. This can be attributed to the colossal role it plays in enhancing the process of care for patients. The core essence of bedside shift reporting entails the fact that it identifies all the care accorded to patients by nurses in the previous shift. As such, it offers a means through which patient care can be continued in a coherent manner. Despite the significant evidence that points to the fact that bedside shift reporting is important in patient care, it is yet to be implemented in all health care contexts. In fact, bedside shift reporting is yet to be understood by various nurses in the modern health care contexts.
What is the Problem?
The major concern with regards to bedside shift reporting aligns with the fact that it is yet to be implemented across different health care settings. In addition, a significant portion of the nurse populations are yet to comprehend with bedside shift reporting despite its importance in patient care.
Why is it important enough to warrant a change?
Bedside shift reporting offers a platform that allows for standardization of communication between nurses; hence, assures consistent and quality patient care. Even so, emerging evidence points to the fact that lack of appropriate patient care results from inappropriate hand-offs of patients amongst nurses (Kim et al., 2012). Besides, between four to five grave medical errors, which may include psychological injuries, death, and physical injuries arise from inappropriate hand-offs between nurses (Howard et al., 2014). This evidence warrants the need for change with regards to the need to adopt adequate bedside shift reporting practices (Sand-Jecklin & Sherman, 2014). Overall, adoption of adequate bedside shift reporting as the reporting strategy allows for an interactive exchange of pertinent patient information between nurses; hence, eliminate potential medical errors or accidents.
Review of Literature
Sand-Jecklin & Sherman (2014) notes that implementation of bedside shift report offers significant benefits on various patient outcomes. Sand-Jecklin & Sherman (2014) article is based on a quantitative study that sought to assess the implications of bedside nursing report. The study was carried out in seven medical-surgical units in a university hospital. The study monitored outcomes of bedside shift reporting including medication errors, patient falls, and nursing and patient satisfaction.
Caruso (2007) hypothesizes that bedside shift report is crucial to the nursing profession because it allows nurses to transfer pertinent patient information aimed at promoting best patient-care practices and patient safety. Caruso (2007) is based on a research carried out in a medical-surgical cardiology unit, which evaluated nurse-to-nurse bedside report.
Muck et al. (2015) reports that compared to board rounds, bedside rounding offers significant learning experience to health care workers. Muck et al. (2015) is based on a quantitative research that evaluated the differences in significance between bed rounding and bedside rounding in a sample 274 patient cases in an emergency department. In a nutshell, bedside rounding or bedside shift reporting offers quality educational experience to health care workers.
Kim et al., (2012) asserts that bedside assessment of pain amongst cancer patients is an effective concept of patient management. Kim et al. (2012) is based on a quantitative research that was done on a sample of 50 oncology patients. In a nutshell, bedside self-reporting, which is often included in bedside shift report provides an effective and a reliable means through which varying patients’ needs can be assessed and intervened.
Howard et al. (2014) hypothesizes that patient satisfaction as one of the outcomes of bedside shift reporting enhances timely diagnosis and reduces length of hospital stay. Bedside ultrasound as a component of bedside shift reporting increases patient satisfaction. Howard et al. (2014), is based on a quantitative research that assessed satisfaction amongst patient requiring ultra sound using randomized controlled study design.
Synthesis of the Evidence
Suggested Courses of Action
There is a need to implement and enhance awareness amongst health nurses on bedside shift reporting. Implementation of bedside shift reporting can be attained through integration with other health care practices. As an example, bedside shift reporting can be implemented alongside bedside rounds, which are often carried out across various health care contexts.
Participative leadership theory would be the theory that is best suited to guide the change process of implementing bedside shift reporting. Participative leadership theory is based on the ideology that change calls for active participation of all stakeholders. With this regard, nurse leaders need to involve all nurses when implementing this change. This would offer a platform through which nurses can learn on bedside shift reporting while it is being implemented.
Summary and Conclusion
Bedside shift reporting provides a standardized communication means that allows nurses to communicate various aspects aligned with patient care. A standardized means of communication enhances the continuation of patient care in a standardized, reliable, and effective manner.
References
Caruso, E. (2007). The Evolution of Nurse-to-Nurse Bedside Report on Medical-Surgical Cardiology Unit. MEDSURG Nursing, 16(1), 17-22.
Howard, Z., Noble, V., Marill, K., Sajed, D., Rodrigues, M., Bertuzzi, B., & Liteplo, A. (2014). Bedside Ultrasound Maximizes Patient Satisfaction. Journal of Emergency Medicine, 46(1): 46-53.
Kim, E., Han, H., Chung, J., Park, B., Lim, S., Yim, K., Shin, Y., Lee, K., Kim, W. & Kim, S. (2012). The effectiveness of a Self-Reporting Bedside Pain Assessment Tool for Oncology Patients. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 15(11): 1222-1233.
Muck, A., McNeil, C., McHugh, P., Bebarta, V., & Adams, B. (2015). Bedside Rounds versus Board Rounds in an Emergency Department. Clinical Teacher, 12(2), 94- 98.
Sand-Jecklin, K., & Sherman, J. (2014). A Quantitative Assessment of Patient and Nurse Outcomes of Bedside Nursing Report Implementation. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 23(19/20), 2854-2863.
