Author(s)

Katherine S. Blondon^1*, Frederic Ehrler², Sandrine Le Godais³, Jean-Yves Wojtasikiewicz³, Charline Couderc³

¹Medical Directorate, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
²Division of Medical Information Science, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
³Department of Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Objective: To propose approaches to improve nursing handoffs for surgical patients, including standardization. Background: Handoffs, or the transfer of accountability and patient information, can generate potential risks for patient safety. Standardization has been proposed to help improve handoffs. Methods: After observing 333 nursing handoffs in the surgical wards of our institution, we conducted a thematic content analysis, comparing and contrasting the observations. Results: Handoff processes, including the use of support tools, varied among the observations. Common themes in the handoff content suggested possibilities of standardization. About half of the 51 interruptions occurring during the observed handoffs were by healthcare professionals. Conclusions: Standardization to improve handoffs should address both the content and the process. Interruptions were common and should be avoided whenever possible. Future studies should also consider the use of mobile applications to support handoffs and clinical documentation.

Nursing Handoffs, Handover, Nursing Sign-Out, Shift Report, Bedside Handoff

S. Blondon, K. , Ehrler, F. , Le Godais, S. , Wojtasikiewicz, J. and Couderc, C. (2017) Approaches to Improving Nursing Handoffs in Surgical Wards. Open Journal of Nursing, 7, 1034-1043. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2017.79075.