Challenges of nursing handover: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Effective nursing handover is crucial for patient safety and continuity of care.
• Shift rotation presents unique challenges to the nursing handover process in hospital settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the challenges encountered during the nursing handover process in hospitals during shift rotation.
• To identify key themes and subthemes associated with handover difficulties.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive exploratory research design.
• Qualitative content analysis approach.
• Data collection through 4-month observation of nursing handovers and semi-structured interviews in three pediatric wards.

Main Results:

• Two major themes emerged: a nonholistic approach and poor management.
• Five subthemes were identified, further detailing the challenges in the handover process.

Conclusions:

• Implementing a holistic approach to patient care during handover is recommended.
• Effective management of handover situations is essential for nursing managers to mitigate challenges.
• Future research could utilize action research to address identified handover challenges.