Nursing handover involving consumers on inpatient mental healthcare units: A qualitative exploration of the consumers’ perspective

Abstract

Handovers between nurses are a significant cause of communication problems and possible consumer safety issues. A potential solution for both problems is the nursing handover involving consumers, in which the consumer is present at the time of handover. This practice invites consumers to be more involved in their care process and supports a recovery‐oriented practice. Research into nursing handovers involving consumers on inpatient mental health units is however very limited. A qualitative, phenomenological study was conducted. Semi‐structured interviews with 13 consumers staying on an inpatient mental health unit of a general hospital were used. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Data saturation was reached after 11 interviews when no new themes or codes emerged from the data. Three themes were generated from the interviews: (i) the first moments on the inpatient mental health unit; (ii) the nurse as an ally; and (iii) informing each other. The COREQ‐checklist was used. According to consumers, nursing handover involving consumers initiated a change in the relationship between consumers and nurses. Consumers and nurses got to know each other better during handover and built a relationship of trust. The introduction of nursing handover involving consumers created an accessible opportunity for consumers to exchange information with nurses and ask questions concerning their admission. Consumers felt jointly responsible for the continuity of the information about their healthcare process. Due to the use of nursing handover involving consumers, consumers experienced the opportunity to take more control in their health process and ensured that information is correct and complete.

Estrategias participativas dirigidas a personas con necesidad de hospitalización psiquiátrica: revisión integrativa

“…E4 (10) Envolvimento do usuário na troca de turnos da Enfermagem/Os usuários e enfermeiros se conheceram melhor e construíram uma relação de confiança. Essa estratégia criou uma oportunidade para que os usuários trocassem informações com enfermeiros, fizessem perguntas, se sentissem corresponsáveis sobre seu processo de saúde, experimentassem mais controle e garantissem informações corretas e completas.…”

“…Dois artigos versaram sobre a participação do usuário na troca de turnos da equipe de Enfermagem (9)(10) . Embora seja uma prática já implementada em cenários de cuidado gerais, na saúde mental é recente e a pesquisa nesse contexto é limitada.…”

“…Em decorrência, melhora a segurança do paciente e mitiga os riscos de falhas de comunicação e eventos adversos possivelmente associados aos cuidados de saúde mental. Outro ponto é o impacto na dinâmica de poder que o reconhecimento do usuário como especialista na sua experiência de doença acarreta, o que estimula sua sensação de segurança (10) .…”