As described for Nurse B, what is the best strategy to address concerns about patients being angry when awakened for shift report?

As described for Nurse B, what is the best strategy to address concerns about patients being angry when awakened for shift report?

• A. Acknowledge the nurse's concern. Encourage nurses to set expectations with patients for patient involvement with care. Determine if the patient wants to be awakened; if not, ask the patient to report concerns beforehand or have a family member participate.
• B. Wake all patients regardless of preferences.
• C. Ignore the concern and push ahead.
• D. Ask a supervisor to decide.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is honoring patient preferences and using patient-centered communication during shift handoffs. When patients are awakened for report, recognizing and addressing their comfort and involvement is essential. Acknowledging the nurse’s concern and actively asking the patient how they want to be involved respects autonomy and personalizes care. By determining whether the patient wants to be awakened, the team can tailor the handoff: if the patient prefers to sleep, report concerns beforehand or have a family member participate, so the information still flows and the patient’s rest isn’t unduly disrupted. This approach reduces anger and frustration, supports consent and involvement, and maintains safety and continuity of care. Waking all patients regardless of preference ignores individual wishes and can undermine trust and satisfaction. Ignoring the concern punted to nothing changes the situation and can worsen the patient–nurse relationship. Delegating the decision to a supervisor removes patient input and may not reflect the patient’s own wishes or needs.

The main idea is honoring patient preferences and using patient-centered communication during shift handoffs. When patients are awakened for report, recognizing and addressing their comfort and involvement is essential. Acknowledging the nurse’s concern and actively asking the patient how they want to be involved respects autonomy and personalizes care. By determining whether the patient wants to be awakened, the team can tailor the handoff: if the patient prefers to sleep, report concerns beforehand or have a family member participate, so the information still flows and the patient’s rest isn’t unduly disrupted. This approach reduces anger and frustration, supports consent and involvement, and maintains safety and continuity of care.

Waking all patients regardless of preference ignores individual wishes and can undermine trust and satisfaction. Ignoring the concern punted to nothing changes the situation and can worsen the patient–nurse relationship. Delegating the decision to a supervisor removes patient input and may not reflect the patient’s own wishes or needs.