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The patient handover: a study of its form, function and efficiency

Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)

|September 20, 1995

Summary

This study highlights that while nursing handovers are essential for patient safety, their effectiveness is hampered by lengthy, information-dense reports lacking a structured framework, indicating a need for improvement in nursing communication protocols.

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Area of Science:

Nursing
Healthcare Communication
Patient Safety

Background:

Student nurses often lack sufficient knowledge for informed patient care.
Effective communication is crucial for continuity of care and patient safety.
Ward handovers are a critical communication point in nursing.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the nature and effectiveness of the ward handover report.
To identify factors contributing to the quality and effectiveness of nursing handovers.
To provide recommendations for improving the handover process.

Main Methods:

Participant observation was conducted on two busy medical wards.
Data collection occurred over a two-week period.
Qualitative analysis of communication systems during handovers.

Main Results:

Nursing handovers are complex communication systems vital for safe patient care.
Handovers were effective but had significant room for improvement.
Reports were often lengthy (up to 60 minutes) and information-heavy, making assimilation difficult.
The quality of the handover process was variable due to a lack of a supporting framework.

Conclusions:

The current nursing handover process, while functional, requires structural improvements.
Recommendations are proposed to enhance the quality and effectiveness of ward handovers.
Standardizing the handover framework can improve information assimilation and consistency.

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