[An effort to discontinue the use of verbal change of shift reports in a workplace with both nursing staff and personal support workers--encouraging independent information collection by personal support workers].
The change of shift report is of great importance in nursing in order to ensure the continuity of care, transfer information among nurses, and to ensure the transfer of responsibility from one shift to the next. In workplaces where nursing staff work together with personal support workers, it is important for staff to have common access to patient information in order to be able to use the information practically and carry out their individual responsibilities and roles. Until now, nursing staff and personal support workers collaborated and combined information for the verbal change of shift report, but the role of the personal support worker was in practice, more passive. Beginning 3 years ago, nurses began planning training sessions to educate personal support workers to increase their practical abilities. Through the training, personal support workers learned how to leave accurate patient records and nursing staff and personal support worker staff began to use a joint flow sheet to keep a record of patient information. This written record became the means of communication, making the verbal change of shift report redundant. As a result of trying to discontinue the verbal change of shift reports, personal support workers began to collect information more independently, and began to practice care more intentionally. In addition, the understanding of the role of the personal support worker deepened, the ability to care for patients improved, and it also led to better cooperation between nursing staff and personal support workers.
Kawabata
Eri
E
National Sanatorium Amami Wako-en, Kagoshima, 1700 Naze-Wako, Amami, Kagoshima 894-0007, Japan.
Norioka
Tsugiko
T
Kisida
Matsumi
M
Nomura
Momiko
M
D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007564:Japan; D007914:Leper Colonies / Q000458:organization & administration; D008297:Male; D009740:Nursing Staff; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D017132:Workplace