Skilled nursing facilities run best when there is continuity and a sense of stability. But in today’s world, that’s rarely the case. Between utilizing staffing agency nurses to close gaps, per diem staff, and float pool nurses, communication is a never-ending series of hurdles.
If communication breaks down with rotating staff, it threatens the care and safety of your skilled nursing facility’s residents. When handoff is rushed, or incoming staff isn’t familiar with the care plan, let alone the resident, omissions turn into serious issues. Medications may be missed, responses delayed, and preventable accidents happen at risk to the resident and your skilled nursing facility.
Strengthen your communication with rotating staff and protect your facility by implementing these five practical ways to close communication gaps.
1. Structured Shift Reports for Handoff
Verbal handoffs between caregivers rely on rapport between nurses and their ability to remember. In a busy environment, especially at shift change, relying on verbal handoffs is a big mistake. Rotating staff rely on a written handoff tool, like the structured, standardized template SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation). Relying on written handoffs ensures no critical mistakes are made when transitioning shifts with rotating staff.
2. Centralize Resident Information Staff Can Access
Rotating staff shouldn’t have to hunt down information such as code status, allergies, or behavioral care plans. When your skilled nursing facility centralizes resident information, it makes it much easier for new, unfamiliar staff to get oriented without interrupting colleagues, depending on the resident to know, or second-guessing. Use color-coded alerts for fall risks, isolation status, medication allergies, and swallowing precautions. This helps temporary or rotating staff learn the most critical information without a full chart review so they can begin their first round with confidence.
3. Schedule Brief Cross-Shift Meetings
Agency nurses, per diem staff, and float pool nurses arrive with all the clinical skills they need, but may not be familiar with specific protocols used in your skilled nursing facility. A short standardized orientation, or even a laminated cheat sheet for rotating staff, goes a long way toward preventing mistakes.
To update incoming staff before their shift, involve the entire team in a brief meeting (10-15 minutes) at shift handoffs. This ensures the incoming and possibly rotating staff understand any changes to patient care or other pertinent information so all staff are on the same page.
4. A Designated Go-To Staff Member
Assign an easily identified nurse, such as a charge nurse or shift lead, as the point person to whom the rotating staff can approach when they have questions. Make sure the point person understands the assignment and let them know to check on the rotating staff throughout the shift. They should also be responsible for updating returning staff on any patient changes. Very often, rotating staff are hesitant to ask questions. They are afraid of appearing incompetent or may not know who is approachable. A designated go-to person resolves that communication issue.
5. Technology and Digital Communication
Technology today can often be a blessing or a curse. In this case, it’s a blessing. Communication with rotating staff couldn’t be easier when you incorporate a secure messaging platform, digital whiteboard, or task-tracking apps specifically designed for healthcare. This allows staff to flag patient concerns, indicate when tasks are completed, and pass along non-critical information. Digital communication, especially in these areas, is much more thorough than trying to catch someone before they go home.
Rotating staff rely on regular staff to alert them when something changes. Using digital communication offers a great way to pass along real-time patient updates, alerts about a resident’s status change, medication holds, or updates to care plans.
Strengthen and Improve Communication
BOS Medical Staffing agency nurses are the answer to so many staffing problems faced by skilled nursing facilities today. These nurses are vetted, skilled, and ready to work. But the facility has the responsibility to communicate protocols and patient care plans, and all that goes into providing safe and quality care for their residents. Implement these five ways to strengthen communication with rotating staff for improved communication and seamless handoffs.
For more information, please contact BOS Medical Staffing today.
