Rates of Nursing Errors and Handoffs-Related Errors in a Medical Unit Following Implementation of a Standardized Nursing Handoff Form

J Nurs Care Qual. 2016 Jan-Mar;31(1):61-7. doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000133.

Abstract

A standardized nursing handoff form was designed and implemented to improve handoff process, and rates of nursing errors were measured to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. This study was a prospective intervention study, using 1-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design, conducted on an inpatient medical unit. The rates of nursing errors decreased from 9.2 (95% confidence interval, 8.0-10.3) to 5.7 (95% confidence interval, 5.1-6.9) per 100 admissions (P < .001), comparing the pre- and postintervention periods.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • China
  • Communication
  • Female
  • Hospital Units*
  • Humans
  • Medical Errors / statistics & numerical data*
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / education
  • Patient Handoff / standards*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality Improvement*