Report on Effective Handover in Nursing: Patient Safety Focus

This report analyzes the importance of effective handover in nursing, focusing on patient safety and quality of care. The report begins by describing a real-life incident where a lack of proper handover led to a patient's delayed treatment. The author uses the Gibbs reflective cycle to analyze the situation, evaluating the incident, and drawing conclusions. The analysis highlights the significance of clear communication, accurate information transfer, and the role of handover in preventing errors. The report references relevant literature and standards, including the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. Finally, the report concludes with an action plan for future practice, emphasizing the importance of patient involvement and effective communication to improve patient outcomes and ensure safe and efficient service delivery. The report is a valuable resource for healthcare professionals seeking to improve their handover practices.

Running head: EFFECTIVE HANDOVER 1
Effective handover
Name
Institutional Affiliation

EFFECTIVE HANDOVER 2
Importance of an effective handover
During my placement period, I was working in the children’s unit. I was tasked with duties and
responsibilities such as administration of oral drugs, injections, wound care, cleaning among
other tasks. At all times, I learnt that effective handover at the end of my shift was essential as
reflected henceforth using the Gibbs reflection cycle.
Event description
At one time, I was due for the night shift and arrived 30 minutes before the commencement of
my shift. The outgoing nurse hurriedly gave a written in-patient record and left. No formal
nursing handover was conducted. Regrettably, a 6 years old pneumatic boy had been admitted
just before my arrival. Little did I know that the outgoing shift had just given an IV for
rehydration while awaiting lab results.
Feelings
It was a bad feeling to realize during my rounds that the child was still in pain with no treatment
given. This was courtesy of poor nursing handing over contrary to the sixth NSQHS standard
(Iedema, Piper, & Manidis, 2015).
Evaluation
From this incident, I came to learn that through effective nursing handover, identification of
patient and matching of procedures is achievable (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality
in Healthcare, 2012).
Analysis

EFFECTIVE HANDOVER 3
I found it vital to ask for additional information from the outgoing to clarify patient details that
may be unclear.
Conclusion
At all times, I vowed to myself to always conduct an effective handing over process at the end of
my shift. This will reduce the occurrence of errors and near misses at work.
Action plan
In the coming days of my nursing profession, I will always partner with patients and other
consumers to capture information that may have been missed during handing over (Australian
Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2011). I will also embark on effective nursing
handover for efficient service delivery.

EFFECTIVE HANDOVER 4
References
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2011). Patient-centered Care:
Improving Quality and Safety Through Partnerships with Patients and Consumers
(illustrated ed.). Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare. (2012, September). National Safety
and Quality Health Service Standards. Retrieved from Safety and Quality:
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NSQHS-Standards-
Sept-2012.pdf
Iedema, R., Piper, D., & Manidis, M. (2015). Communicating Quality and Safety in Health Care
(illustrated ed.). Cambridge University Press.