Bedside handover: quality improvement strategy to "transform care at the bedside"

Area of Science:

• Nursing Quality Improvement
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety Research

Background:

• Traditional nursing shift reports often occur in isolated settings, potentially limiting patient involvement and information accuracy.
• Effective communication during nursing handovers is critical for patient safety and continuity of care.
• Implementing standardized handover processes can enhance healthcare team collaboration and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate the impact of bedside handover in a hospital nursing setting.
• To assess the effects of bedside handover on patient safety, nursing efficiency, and teamwork.
• To explore staff and patient perceptions of the bedside handover process.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement project was conducted across three nursing wards in an Australian hospital.
• The project utilized Lewin's 3-Step Model for Change to transition from verbal reporting to bedside handover.
• Practice guidelines and a competency standard were developed and implemented to support the change.

Main Results:

• Bedside handover was successfully implemented and positively received by both nursing staff and patients.
• Nursing staff reported improvements in patient safety, communication clarity, and efficiency.
• Key benefits included enhanced teamwork and increased support from senior nursing staff.

Conclusions:

• Bedside handover is an effective quality improvement strategy in nursing practice.
• This model enhances communication, collaboration, and patient safety during shift changes.
• The positive reception by staff and patients supports the broader adoption of bedside handover.