Nursing shift handoffs can be frustrating for nursing staff when information received about a patient is inaccurate or inadequate. The safety of the patient may be compromised, and missed opportunities for care interventions may occur. The electronic health record (EHR) provides healthcare professionals with useful information that can highlight the most important items the nurse needs to prioritize patient care. A unit leadership team at a large academic hospital developed a peer-to-peer training plan to provide evidence-based nursing education using the nursing handoff feature in the EHR.
Keywords: electronic health record; hospital; nursing education; patient handoff; staff.