Nursing assistant walking report at change of shift

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Nursing shift changes can reduce staff visibility, potentially impacting patient care and satisfaction.
• Effective communication during change of shift is crucial for maintaining patient safety and quality of care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a walking report by nursing assistants on patient satisfaction and safety outcomes.
• To assess the effect of this intervention on call light responsiveness, falls, call light usage, and pressure ulcer rates.

Main Methods:

• A walking report protocol was implemented for nursing assistants during shift changes.
• Data collected included patient satisfaction surveys, fall incident reports, call light usage logs, and pressure ulcer incidence.

Main Results:

• Patient satisfaction scores related to call light responsiveness significantly improved.
• A reduction in patient falls and a decrease in overall call light use were observed.
• No significant change was noted in pressure ulcer rates following the intervention.

Conclusions:

• A walking report by nursing assistants is an effective strategy to enhance patient satisfaction and safety during shift changes.
• This practice improves call light responsiveness and reduces falls, contributing to better patient care outcomes.
• Further investigation may be needed to explore the impact on pressure ulcer prevention.