Ohio Hospital Program Increases Interaction Between Nurses, Patients

Education and implementation

Tripp, her clinical nurse manager, the women's health clinical nurse specialist, and a research nurse at RMH formed an evidence-based practice team to research information on bedside reporting.

While researching, the team chose three different articles that highlighted the pros and cons to bedside reporting. Nursing staff members received these articles as education and to prepare for the upcoming change in reporting.

As part of the TABS process, when the two nurses enter a patient's room, the nurse coming off shift introduces the nurse coming on shift to the patient. Then, the nurse now on shift checks the patient's armband and asks the patient's name and date of birth.

The new nurse on shift writes his or her own name, along with the patient's name on the white board located in each patient room.

"The nurse also makes sure there is an opportunity for the patient to ask questions," says Tripp. "This allows the patient to comment on treatment or clarify why they are on a particular medication."

In addition to having the two nurses work together and converse more with the patient, a report sheet is kept outside the patient's room.

"The report sheet is used as a guideline for the nurses to communicate with one another, especially if a float nurse comes to the unit," says Tripp.

After a month of using the new TABS process, Tripp and her team sent out surveys to the nursing staff members along with the patients on the unit to solicit opinions about the new bedside reporting.

Overall, the new process of reporting was well received, and many nurses liked the process better than they had expected to like it.

"Nurses reported that they were now clocking out on time, as opposed to leaving a half an hour after their shift has ended," says Tripp.

Patients were also happy with the bedside reporting. "Some patients told me that they were considering having family members spend the night with them because they were scared," says Tripp. "But with the new bedside reporting, the patients said they felt safe because they were aware of what was going on and who was taking care of them."

Great success

In addition to receiving good reviews from the nursing staff members and the patients on the gyn/gyn-onc surgical unit, the TABS process vastly improved the Press Ganey scores.

The three areas on which RMH focuses are:

• How well nurses keep patients informed


• How well staff worked together to care for patients


• Whether or not staff includes patients in decision making

Prior to implementation, Tripp's unit scores were hovering around 26%, 50%, and 60% satisfaction for each of the three focuses. Just three weeks after implementing reporting at the bedside, each focus area reached 99% satisfaction.