Approaches to Improving Nursing Handoffs in Surgical Wards

Abstract

Objective: To propose approaches to improve nursing handoffs for surgical patients, including standardization. Background: Handoffs, or the transfer of accountability and patient information, can generate potential risks for patient safety. Standardization has been proposed to help improve handoffs. Methods: After observing 333 nursing handoffs in the surgical wards of our institution, we conducted a thematic content analysis, comparing and contrasting the observations. Results: Handoff processes, including the use of support tools, varied among the observations. Common themes in the handoff content suggested possibilities of standardization. About half of the 51 interruptions occurring during the observed handoffs were by healthcare professionals. Conclusions: Standardization to improve handoffs should address both the content and the process. Interruptions were common and should be avoided whenever possible. Future studies should also consider the use of mobile applications to support handoffs and clinical documentation.

Features of recording practices and communication during nursing handover: a cluster analysis

“…These characteristics also emerged as one of the four major groups of the cluster analysis. The nursing handover process provides the opportunity to reinforce the cohesion of the nurses as a group and the professional socialization, training, interaction and emotional support of group members (18)(19) . Therefore, the handover must be precise, complete, specialized, relevant and, above all, based on objective criteria.…”

“…emerged were that the information presented was based on nursing diagnoses and therefore appeared to operate on the basis of best nursing clinical practice (18) . The same study found that nurses used clinical handover.…”