Oncoming Nurse Report

My third day at the hospital, I was in the orthopedic unit. Before receiving the report, my nurse got paper and put the patient’s name. I noticed the report was done at the patient’s bedside. The nurse, I shadowed, said the report was done at the bedside in case she noticed something in a patient’s room that needed explanation such as a device the patient uses. Also, the patient can confirm the details that the nurse is saying to the oncoming nurse. This gave the oncoming nurse the opportunity to ask questions as well as introduce herself to the patient. If the patient was asleep, the report was done outside of the patient’s room. The report consisted of the patient’s past medical history, the date of the last dressing change. They discussed any additional medication the patient received.

For instance, a patient had a fever and was given a Tylenol.

The night shift nurse informed the oncoming nurse if the patient was scheduled for any tests or procedures. Also, if a patient was planned to be discharged. Based on the information from the report, the nurse prioritized her patients. She would see the patients that didn’t do well during the night. For instance, the nurse went to see the patient who had fever all night. During her nursing assessment, with this particular patient, she check to see if the patient was still running a fever as well as if the patient’s dressing had any sign of infection. During the nursing assessment, the nurse would introduce herself once again and would address the patient by their last name. Based on the information she received, she would assess the patient for any changes. Then, the nurse would give the patient’s medications. While looking at the patient’s chart, she would at out all the medication needed at that time. Then, she would scan the medication to document it into the chart. The nurse would ask the patient if he/she wanted to take their medicine with water or

juice.
There was differences and similarities between the orthopedics and rehabilitation unit. The similarities were that in both units the nurses provided the patients with the best care. They would look out for the patients’ safety. For instance, neither nurse did a patient transfer without assists of a nurse or nursing assistant. Also, both nurses would check they were giving the patient his/her the correct medication. The difference was time management and preparation. The nurse in orthopedics would forget the patient’s medication and would run back and forth to get it from the medication cart. This led her to behind in giving the patient’s medication on time. This week at the hospital, I saw the importance of time management and preparation. I didn’t expect the nurse in the orthopedic unit not having the medication with her when walking into the patient’s room. The first time it happened I thought she had forgotten, but she repeated the same action with each patient. I thought she was a bit careless in not preparing the patient’s medications. If the nurse prepared herself she wouldn’t have to be running back and forth to get the patient’s medication. Also, it wouldn’t have put her behind administering the medication.