Undertaking effective handovers in the healthcare setting

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Effective patient handovers are critical for healthcare continuity and patient safety.
• Traditional nurse-to-nurse communication is evolving towards greater patient involvement.
• Person-centred care principles are influencing handover practices in the National Health Service (NHS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers to effective nursing handovers.
• To advocate for patient-centred handover strategies.
• To emphasize the importance of structured handover frameworks.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on nursing handovers and patient involvement.
• Analysis of current trends in healthcare communication.
• Advocacy for structured bedside handovers.

Main Results:

• Structured frameworks enhance handover effectiveness.
• Increased patient involvement in handovers aligns with person-centred care.
• Bedside handovers facilitate patient-centred care and continuity.

Conclusions:

• Implementing structured bedside handovers is key to improving patient safety and care continuity.
• Nurses need training and support for effective, patient-centred handovers.
• Addressing barriers is essential for optimizing handover processes.