title: Bedside Reporting: Protocols for Improving Patient Care.
abstract: Bedside reporting continues to gain much attention and is being investigated to support the premise that "hand-off" communications enhance efficacy in delivery of patient care. Patient inclusion in shift reports enhances good patient outcomes, increased satisfaction with care delivery, enhanced accountability for nursing professionals, and improved communications between patients and their direct care providers. This article discusses the multiple benefits of dynamic dialogue between patients and the health care team, challenges often associated with bedside reporting, and protocols for managing bedside reporting with the major aim of improving patient care. Nursing research supporting the concept of bedside reporting is examined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, St. Claire Regional Medical Center, 222 Medical Circle Drive, Morehead, KY 40351, USA. Electronic address: t.ferguson@moreheadstate.edu.
authors.forename: Teresa D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Morehead State University, 316 West Second Street, CHER 201, Morehead, KY 40351, USA.
authors.forename: Teresa L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Howell
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking; D006801:Humans; D009736:Nursing Process / Q000592:standards*; D062209:Patient Handoff; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014481:United States
keywords: Bedside reporting; Change-of-shift report; Hand-off; Patient safety and bedside reporting; Patient safety goals and the Joint Commission; Patient-centered care; Shift-to-shift nursing report