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.

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