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Tips on Effective Nursing Handover

Nursing handover is one of the most crucial parts of the health care engine. It is a skill that cannot be overlooked in its importance to patient safety, continuity of care and the patient's experience of his care. Graduate and seasoned nurses alike are often looking for new ways to improve their reporting skills. The handover is an art that is never mastered, but is intimately important to the health of the patient.

  1. Head to Toe Assessment

    • One of the easiest ways to organize a handover report is to list information in the head to toe format. If a nurse starts the assessment at the top and works her way down, then she is less likely to forget any pertinent assessment data that may be necessary to relate. Also, if a nurse does her assessment the same way every time, she is less likely to miss something herself. This is a way to remember to catch all of the assessment data for a particular patient.

    Organized Report Tool

    • Having a written report tool is a way to stay organized. One way to get a report paper is to ask other nurses what they use to take reports down. It is also possible to simply design a report sheet. Mark on a sheet of paper the places where important information such as assessment data, lab results and upcoming medications should go. Report sheets are unique to a person. What works for one may not work for another. It helps to try many types of sheets to find what works best.

    Involve the Patient

    • The patient can usually fill in parts of his history or hospital stay that neither nurse would have known. Involving the patient also allows the nurse the opportunity to educate him on the care he is receiving. Even the best report can be enhanced by the patient's insight into his own condition.

    Safety

    • Safety is the most important consideration when looking at handover reports. Giving clear, complete information on a patient is vital to that patient's survival. If something is missed in the report, it can have repercussions for the next shift that can literally be life-threatening. It is important to realize that the safety of the patient is paramount and that all information must be carefully organized and related to the oncoming nurse. It does not matter how long the report takes or what sort of tools must be used. Whatever makes the patient safe is the key.

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