Date of Graduation
Fall 12-12-2020
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
First Advisor
Dr Catherine Coleman
Second Advisor
Dr Margaret Levine
Abstract
Abstract
Background. Ineffective patient handoff can result in poor nurse communication, increasing the likelihood of adverse events including medication and documentation errors.
Context/Problem. In one 20-bed ICU unit in a northern California community hospital, 48 patient handoffs were observed over 2 weeks. Only 29% occurred at the patient’s bedside; 39.5% used a standardized handoff tool; and 54% included the patient and/or family. These findings indicate significant quality gaps in the unit’s ICU patient handoff processes.
Intervention. The educational intervention consisted of one introductory and two follow-up teaching sessions related to best practices for handoff processes followed by implementation of the I PUT PATIENTS FIRST handoff tool.
Measures. Metrics include a Likert-scale survey to assess nurse perceptions of the handoff process and post-implementation observation of 96 handoffs to evaluate the intervention’s impact on 3 handoff domains: location (bedside), patient/family involvement, and use of the I PUT PATIENTS FIRST tool.
Results. Due to current hospital Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, the intervention is on hold until conditions allow change projects to resume. However, the project team anticipates ≥ 25% improvement in each handoff domain and ≥ 50% improvement in nurse perception.
Conclusions. Definitive conclusions cannot be drawn until after the project has been fully implemented and evaluated after the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the project team expects that implementing evidence-based handoff practices will result in measurable engagement and improvement in nurse knowledge exchange processes in the ICU.
Keywords: handoff, nurse knowledge exchange, communication, standardized tool, quality, ICU.
Recommended Citation
Joseph, Wislande, "Standardizing Patient Handoffs in the ICU – Implementing the “I PUT PATIENTS FIRST” Tool." (2020). Master's Projects and Capstones. 1062.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/1062
Included in
Critical Care Nursing Commons, Geriatric Nursing Commons, Other Nursing Commons, Pediatric Nursing Commons, Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Commons
