Nursing bedside report

What is nursing bedside report?

Bedside report is when the nurses going on and off duty meet at your child’s bedside to talk about your child’s care. The nurse going off duty has been taking care of your child. This nurse tells the nurse coming on duty what has been happening. This helps the new nurse know what to expect or do.

Bedside report gives you a chance to meet the nurse who will take care of your child for the next shift. 

You can talk to members of your child’s health care team at any time. But bedside report offers one more chance for you to share questions, concerns, and information with your child’s care team.

When bedside report occurs

Bedside report happens when nurses change work shifts—usually at 7 a.m., and 7 p.m. Bedside report lasts for 5–10 minutes.

Who can be in the room

You and other parents or family caregivers can be in the room during bedside report. If your child has visitors, the nurses will ask them to leave unless you say they can stay.

What to expect

The nurses will introduce themselves. The nurse coming on duty will write their name on the whiteboard in your child’s room.

The nurses will ask if you have questions or want to share information. You can also decide who else can do this. For example, if other family caregivers are in the room, you might want them to share information too.

The nurse coming on duty will check your child’s armband and make sure the name, age, and medical record number are correct.

The nurse going off duty will tell the new nurse:

• Why your child is in the hospital, such as for chemotherapy or a fever
• Your child’s medical history
• Your child’s allergies
• The care plan
• Medicines to be given
• Scheduled tests
• Important lab results
• Anything else the new nurse should know

What the nurses will check

The nurses will check the following during bedside report:

• Your child’s medicines
• Any intravenous (IV) or central lines and drains
• Your child’s skin
• Your child’s dressings (bandages)
• Anything else that is part of your child’s care
• Your child’s pain level

The nurses will also ask you:

• What could have gone better during the last shift
• What you hope will happen on the next shift (For example, you might hope your child can take a walk around the nursing unit that day.)

The new nurse will try to help you meet your goals. They will urge you to ask questions and share your concerns.

What should you do at bedside report?

• Listen. You are an important part of your child’s health care team. We want to make sure that you have full information about your child’s care and that you have it at the right time.
• Speak up. If you have questions or concerns, bedside report is the perfect time to talk about them. We want to make sure your child gets the best care. If you are concerned about the quality of your child’s care, your child’s safety, or anything else, please tell us.
• Ask questions. If the nurses say things you don’t understand, please ask them to explain. Be sure to ask if you have been wondering about something.

If a bedside report does not happen, please tell the nurse manager, clinical staff leader (CSL) or relief staff leader (RSL).