My early nursing career offered me a variety of care areas and work settings. Shortly after graduating with my BSN, I began my nursing career in Labor & Delivery at a hospital in downtown Omaha. While not as notorious as some other inner-city facilities in the country, it was a reality check and an often-stressful setting for a ‘farm-girl’ from rural Nebraska. My eyes were quickly opened by the cases that we saw in this trauma center caring for a diverse population.

Bedside shift report is an evidence-based practice designed to enhance communication with patients by including them in the handoff process from one care provider to another. Failures of communication during these transitions may result in patient harm, negative patient experiences and loss of trust in providers and/or the facility.