P10A

Nursing Handoff: Implementing a Standard Handoff Communication Tool between Outpatient and Inpatient

Free
Standard Price

Purpose: To implement a standardized and structured nursing handoff process between a pediatric outpatient hematology/oncology clinic and a pediatric inpatient hematology/oncology unit utilizing the SBAR communication tool to evaluate its impact on nurse perception of missed care and nurse satisfaction. The MISSEDCARE-pediatric survey was used to measure the frequency and severity of missed care. The satisfaction with handoff survey was used to measure nurse satisfaction and teamwork.

Method: Utilizing the plan-do-study-act (PDSA) process improvement model, nurses were educated on a standard and structured handoff process. Nurses completed surveys before and after the project intervention. All results were compared in the aggregate and reviewed for statistical significance. Results were reported as frequency and percent.

Results: There was a statistical difference identified between pre- and post- implementation groups in the area the area of communication (p = 0.0009) and nurse satisfaction (p = < 0.0001). There was a significant difference in urgent patient needs (p = 0.0224) and reassessment (p = 0.0011). There was no statically difference between pre- and post- implementation groups between demographics and job characteristics.

Discussion/implications: The handoff process utilized in this project required nurses to communicate in a structured way during admission from an outpatient clinic to an inpatient unit. It improved perception of communication, decreased the frequency and severity factor of missed care, and increased nurse satisfaction and teamwork. In order to further support the findings of this project, a longer monitoring period is needed and continued use of the SBAR tool during care transition needs to be monitored as well as organizational benchmarks regarding nursing care quality.  

Speaker

Speaker Image for Melissa  Golombek
Melissa Golombek, DNP, MHCM, RN, CPN, NE-BC

Related Products

Thumbnail for Online Journal Club: Enhancing Team, Educational, and Professional Development through Participation in an Online Learning Community
Online Journal Club: Enhancing Team, Educational, and Professional Development through Participation in an Online Learning Community
Significance and background: Our comprehensive cancer center places a priority on professional and educational development of our nurses. Our nurses are encouraged to continue their education and improve their leadership skills through the clinical ladder program…
Thumbnail for Nurse Engagement in Orientation Design, Implementation, and Evaluation
Nurse Engagement in Orientation Design, Implementation, and Evaluation
Background: In December 2017, a needs assessment survey was conducted with all RNs and LPNs across 25 practice sites. The results indicated a need to focus on the foundations of care and infrastructure to support nursing practice…
Thumbnail for Leadership: Owning the Patient Experience in Ambulatory Care
Leadership: Owning the Patient Experience in Ambulatory Care
One of the primary accountabilities of nursing leadership is to promote high-quality outcomes. One critical element of high-quality outcomes is patient experience…
Thumbnail for Leadership and Management in Healthcare
Leadership and Management in Healthcare
Issue: A survey of currently employed nurse managers working in the ambulatory care arena within a major medical system revealed a need for increased competencies in leadership and business management…
Privacy Policy Update: We value your privacy and want you to understand how your information is being used. To make sure you have current and accurate information about this sites privacy practices please visit the privacy center by clicking here.