A nurse is providing a change-of-shift report about a client who is 36 hr postoperative to another nurse. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the report?
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A reason: Reporting that the client was provided with a breakfast tray at 0800 is not clinically significant information for a change-of-shift report. Shift reports should focus on pertinent clinical updates, ongoing concerns, and interventions that impact patient safety and care continuity. Meal times are routine and do not provide meaningful information for the incoming nurse. Choice B reason: Nausea immediately after surgery is expected and would have occurred 36 hours earlier. This information is outdated and not relevant to the current status of the client. Change-of-shift reports should emphasize current or ongoing issues rather than resolved postoperative symptoms. Therefore, this option is not appropriate to include. Choice C reason: Checking for peripheral IV blood return prior to administering antibiotics is a standard nursing practice and does not need to be included in a shift report unless there was a complication, such as infiltration or loss of IV access. Routine procedural details are not necessary unless they affect ongoing care. Thus, this option is not the best choice. Choice D reason: Reporting that the client’s pain was relieved by position change is clinically relevant because it provides information about the client’s current pain management needs and effective interventions. Pain control is a critical aspect of postoperative care, and knowing what measures are effective helps ensure continuity of care. This is the correct answer because it directly impacts the incoming nurse’s ability to manage the client’s comfort and recovery.