Professional Nursing English:

Conversation 3
Jennifer Fox, MSN, RN

Talking to Other Nurses

Giving Report/Handover/Handoff
Communication
One of the key events in your professional
life is the handover at the start of your
shift on the ward/unit.
This is when the new shift is given a
summary of the patient and their care
plans.

Talking to Other Nurses: Giving Report

If you work on a medical or surgical
ward you may have a group report where
a head/charge nurse summarizes for
everyone what is happening on the ward and
hands over all the patients.

Talking to Other Nurses: Giving Report

Group Report

Talking to Other Nurses: Giving Report

Next there is usually an individual nurse-tonurse report, perhaps by the patients
bedside, or at the nurses station.

Talking to Other Nurses: Giving Report

Individual Nurse-to-Nurse Report

Talking to Other Nurses

Time to Practice
Sample Report #1
Give Report on Vera Smith. As the nurse
taking report, think of any questions you
might want to ask about the patient

Time to Practice
Sample Report #1
make sure nothing
major is wrong

Notice how the nurse

takes time to answer the
patients question.
The nurse also
empathizes with the
patient, Having a test
can be scary.

Time to Practice
Sample Report #2
Give report on Terry Cotton.

Time to Practice:
Sample Conversation #2: Vocabulary
Penicillin
infection
allergic

Notice how the nurse

explains what the
medicine is and what
it is for.
The nurse also
reassures the patient
by telling her Dont
be afraid.

Time to Practice
Sample Conversation #3: Drawing blood
The patient needs blood drawn for a test.

Time to Practice:
Sample Conversation #3: Vocabulary
Cottonball

The nurse explains

why the blood test is
needed.
The nurse also asks,
Are you ready?
making sure the
patient understands.

Time to Practice
Sample Conversation #4: Operation
An older patient needs an operation. The
nurse helps him understand what will
happen if he does not have the operation.

Time to Practice
Sample Conversation #4: Vocabulary
I dont think its worth the bother = trouble
You dont mean that, do you? = To clear up
what the patient meant
Get over an operation = recover from an
operation
Why dont you = a suggestion
Im not too keen on the idea of having an
operation = I havent thought about/I dont
really want to have surgery

Time to Practice
Sample Conversation #5: Breathing
trouble
Mr. Ryan has COPD and is in the hospital
for worsening of his condition. As the
nurse, you ask questions (inquiry) to find
out more about the problem.

Time to Practice:
Sample Conversation #5: Vocabulary

mental state
breathless
walk about
GP
cylinders
specimen

physiotherapist
appetite
dietician
nourishing