Date of Graduation

Spring 5-17-2024

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Program

MSN project

First Advisor

Scout E. Hebinck, MSN, RNC-OB

Abstract

Problem: Medical errors and adverse events can result from inconsistent handoffs during patient transfers. As seen in Hospital A’s peripartum unit, there is no formal policy regarding the handoff process, also known as the Nurse Knowledge Exchange (NKE). This quality improvement project aims to introduce a standardized handoff guide to enhance communication and minimize harmful outcomes following patient transfers.

Context: The setting for this project is an urban hospital in Northern California with nine laboring beds and 21 postpartum beds.

Interventions: The project employed a systemic approach involving stakeholder involvement, literature review, and data analysis to identify areas for improvement in the handoff process. Standardized handoff manuals and protocols were created and piloted based on the assessment. Offering training and education to the staff ensured consistent and efficient utilization of the updated handoff procedures.

Measures: The project’s outcome measure is the comprehensiveness of NKE, which is evaluated by a numerical grading tool.

Results: The utilization of the bedside handoff guide led to a remarkable enhancement in the comprehensiveness of handoffs. The occurrence of NKE at the bedside increased from 33.5% to 77%, while the overall comprehensiveness of NKE increased from 74% to 91%.

Conclusions: The successful implementation of standardized handoff protocols within the peripartum mesosystem demonstrates the efficacy of best practices in enhancing patient safety and care quality during transfers. It is crucial to maintain these improvements by constantly monitoring and evaluating the protocols.

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