Patient bedside whiteboards are located near each bed. Patients, visitors and staff can use these to ask and share information during your hospital stay.
What is a patient bedside whiteboard?
Your patient bedside whiteboard is located near your bed. It is there to:
- help you and the people who are important to you share information with your care team
- invite and remind staff to talk with you about what matters to you, and to answer any questions you might have
The whiteboard does not replace:
- our usual communication with you, such as talking with you during ward rounds and giving you written information about your care
- the medical record system
How is the whiteboard used?
When you're admitted to a ward, your nurse will talk to you about the whiteboard and ask your permission to use it.
The whiteboard may be updated:
- during nursing handover between shifts
- during ward rounds
- after a discussion with you about your care and goals
- at other times as needed throughout your stay
We want you to be involved in decisions about your care.
Tell your nurse if the information on your whiteboard is out of date or you are not happy with what is written.
Tell us what matters to you
We encourage you and your family, carers, support people or kin to use the whiteboard to tell us your preferences, goals or what is important to you.
For example, you may write:
- "I would like room temperature water in my jug not cold water."
- "I prefer my shower in the afternoons just before visitors arrive."
- "One of my goals is to be able to walk 50 metres so I can attend my niece's birthday party."
Ask questions
Your family or visitors may not always be present when doctors, nurses or other members of your healthcare team visit. The whiteboard can be a useful place to record questions or requests so we can answer them when staff are available.
For example, they may like to write:
- "Please let us know when the dietitian will come to visit mum as we have a few questions to ask."
- "Can you please wash Mum’s hair?"
- "Can you help Dad order his meals as he has trouble with his arthritis?"
- "Mum is being discharged soon. Can you help us arrange transport home?"
Your privacy
We are committed to protecting patient privacy and confidentiality.
To make sure that we are respecting your privacy, we will:
- avoid writing sensitive information on the whiteboard
- discuss with you what we write on the whiteboard and make sure you are happy with it
- speak at an appropriate volume when updating whiteboards in shared rooms
Questions or concerns?
Speak to the Nurse Unit Manager on your ward if have questions or concerns about your care.
You can also give feedback.