Bedside RN to RN Handoff
Bedside Handoff is a time when responsibility and accountability of
care is transferred from one nurse to another at change of shift.
Nurses on unit F3 felt that this handoff provided an opportunity to
improve communication between them and increase patient safety.
Members from the Unit Council and Service Champions developed and
piloted the initiative. The one month pilot was so successful that
Bedside Handoff will be implemented across all units by the end of 2013.
Since implementing Bedside Handoff on several units, some of our key
quality indicators have shown improvements.
Bedside handoff goals
- Provide continuity of care and increase patient safety.
- Facilitate communication between nurses by providing a
structured time for transitioning the patient's care.
- Encourage patients and their family members to actively
participate in their plans of care.
- Improve the following
questions on the Inpatient Nursing Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction
Survey to above the 50th percentile:
- Nurses listen carefully
to you.
- Nurses treat you with courtesy and
respect.
- Help toileting as soon as you wanted.
- Staff does everything to help you with pain.
Bedside handoff benefits
- Increased patient involvement and understanding of their
care.
- Decreased patient and family anxiety and feelings of
"abandonment" at change of shift.
- Increased
accountability, teamwork, and relationships among nurses.
- Decreased potential for errors.
Process
Bedside Handoff occurs at the beginning of a shift. Throughout the
handoff, C-I-CARE practices are utilized. Patients and their families
are engaged in the patient's plan of care, and questions and concerns
are addressed. In order to maximize the time spent during bedside
handoff, pilot participants recommended that each unit develop service
specific items to review with the patient. Bedside Handoff is
concluded with the nurses setting the patient's expectations and
exiting the room courteously.
