How Bedside Shift Reporting Enhances Patient Safety and Care

If you or a family member has ever experienced a hospital stay, you know how important communication with your care provider is. Patients (and families) want to know what the plan of care is and what to expect while they are in the hospital. 

That’s where bedside shift reporting comes in. 

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An innovative approach for transferring patient care from one nurse to another at the start of a shift, bedside shift reporting has enhanced both safety and the patient experience, leading to better health outcomes. 

Here’s how this new standard of care at South Shore Health works. 

At the start of each shift, the nurse going off duty gives a report to the nurse coming on duty at the patients’ bedside. The report includes a brief medical history, information about the patient’s condition/diagnosis, the length of stay, and the care plan for the day – including any tests or treatments scheduled. 

In addition to the bedside shift report, the nurses conduct a safety check of equipment in the patient’s room and write the incoming nurse’s name on the board so the patient knows who their next caregiver is. 

Throughout the bedside shift report and safety check process, the patient is encouraged to participate in the conversation, ask any questions they have or make requests.  

Patients also have an opportunity to discuss or correct any past medical history that is pertinent to their hospitalization. 

Moving the shift report from the nursing station to the patient’s bedside was a significant change, but it has been beneficial for both patients and the nursing staff. 

Patients and families feel informed, understand the plan of care and have a chance to meet the next nurse providing care. 

Bedside shift reporting has improved communication and engagement with patients, and has increased patient satisfaction scores.

It has also enhanced patient safety. 

Within a month of implementing bedside shift reports, we saw a 40% decrease in patient falls. Giving patients that face-to-face time with their nurse has made a big difference.

By including patients in the bedside shift report, we are empowering them to become active participants in their own care and experience better health outcomes.

Donna Terry, MSN, RN, CCRN is Nurse Manager for the Critical Care Unit and the Rapid Response Team at South Shore Hospital.