The nurse is providing handoff-of-care report to the oncoming nurse for a client admitted with pneumonia that morning. Which information is most important for the nurse to communicate about the client during handoff report?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Current respiratory status is essential to include in handoff report, as it is objective information related to the client's current condition. Information communicated during report should allow the oncoming nurse to prioritize care and obtain baseline measurements of the client's current status and response to treatment. It is especially important to include information that may not be documented in the medical record. Respiratory status can change rapidly, and the most current measurements may not be documented, as vital signs are often documented every 4, 8, or 12 hours (Option C). Handoff report typically includes: Client's name, location, age, gender, health care provider, and diagnoses Client's current baseline measurements, treatment plan, goals, and response to treatment Priority and outstanding tasks and changes from previous days (Option A) Lung infiltrates and elevated WBC count are expected findings with pneumonia and are found in the medical record. Diagnostic findings are significant if there is an ongoing trend, but isolated, expected results are not as helpful in planning care. (Option B) Personal opinions are not pertinent to providing care. (Option D) The client's IV site is assumed to be patent without complication, or the offgoing nurse would have changed it. The oncoming nurse should make an individual assessment. Educational objective: Handoff report should include objective information related to the client's current condition. It is especially important to include baseline measurements that may not be documented in the medical record (eg, current respiratory status) so that the oncoming nurse can prioritize care.

The Nurse Is Providing Handoff-Of-Care Report to the Oncoming Nurse