A Nursing Pilot Study on Bedside Reporting to Promote Best Practice and Patient/Family-Centered Care

Abstract

Objective: 

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bedside nursing report implementation on a pediatric neuroscience unit.

Background: 

The change-of-shift nursing report often involves only nurse-to-nurse communication, occurs far away from the patient's bedside, and includes little or no patient/family involvement. Studies show that the bedside nursing report is a more comprehensive and patient-centered approach (C. D. Anderson & R. R. Mangino, 2006).

Methods: 

Patient and nurse satisfaction and nursing overtime were measured 6 months before and 6 months after the implementation of bedside reporting. Data were analyzed using paired t test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact tests to determine significant changes.

Results: 

Patients, families, and nurses reported an increase in satisfaction after the implementation of bedside reporting. Overtime decreased and represented a potential cost savings of nearly $13,000 annually.

Conclusions: 

Bedside reporting saves money, improves patient and nurse satisfaction, and is a more comprehensive approach to change-of-shift reporting.

In Brief

In this study, nurses working in a pediatric neuroscience unit implemented a bedside reporting process as a way to strengthen a collaborative, family-centered model of care, to enhance continuity and safety of care, to improve both patient and staff satisfaction, and to decrease overtime costs.