Getting to work on time can be tough. After you get ready for work, you may have to take care of issues at home, stop for gas, grab a cup of coffee, deal with traffic, and find a parking spot. Some days, getting there in time for the pre-shift meeting may seem almost impossible. Don’t give up; that meeting is important, and you’ll be doing yourself a favor if you attend.

Safety

Safety is important in hospitals. There can be a wide variety of issues, including medication errors, falls, surgical errors, and so on. Pre-shift meetings can help with all of these issues and more. It’s a time and place where people can report on safety, quality, and service events that occurred during the shift and highlight related issues that may arise during the upcoming shift.

With a focus on reporting what happened in the earlier shift and highlighting issues that may arise, hospital personnel share valuable information about the previous shift to increase safety for the upcoming shift. That can prevent problems, which can have a very positive effect on patient safety.

Communication

When people share information, they’re able to work together to solve problems and maximize effectiveness with the goal of providing the best possible patient care. In this way, effective communication is crucial to seamless work processes. Pre-shift meetings are generally a mix of big-picture issues and information specific to particular patients; this may include a variety of factors affecting workload, such as the number of patients who require total assistance or complex treatments, are being discharged, or are undergoing procedures off the unit. As people receive information, they can share information, as well. The ability to think out loud, brainstorm, and hear input from all staff members promotes collaborative solutions.

Collaboration

Pre-shift meetings are collaborative in several important ways. First, everyone must work cooperatively to keep the meeting on task so the incoming shift can return to patient care. In addition, everyone must be willing to share. This includes a look back at the previous shift and a look ahead at the upcoming shift. It also requires people to ask questions or request clarification as necessary.

Teamwork

Although medical personnel often work one on one with patients, they rely on their colleagues to work with them to provide the best care. Daily shift interchange is an important part of successful patient care; it helps ensure effective teamwork.

Professionalism

Pre-shift meetings are designed to allow healthcare providers to communicate to maximize safety and optimize patient care. It shows a great deal of integrity and a measure of your commitment to your profession, your co-workers, and your patients when you participate in something designed to promote safety, communication, collaboration, and teamwork.

Are you ready for a new assignment?

At 365 Healthcare Staffing Services, we specialize in the recruitment and placement of healthcare professionals in per diem, travel, and permanent assignments in healthcare facilities across the country. We hope you get the most out of your pre-shift meetings; if you are searching for a new assignment – pre-shift meetings and all – we can help. Give us a call at 310.436.3650 today!