Ensuring Safe Transfer of Pediatric Patients: A Quality Improvement Project to Standardize Handoff Communication.

BACKGROUND: During a single hospital stay, a patient's care is transferred several times between health care clinicians requiring multiple handoffs. Nurses often voice concerns about feeling unsafe when receiving patients from other areas.

AIMS: The aims of the intradepartmental quality improvement project were to identify the safest way to transfer care of pediatric patients and to improve bedside nurses' knowledge on conducting an evidence based practice project.

METHODS: Guided by clinical nurse specialists, nurses from various departments worked together and reviewed the literature regarding safe transfers, timing, and handoff communication.

RESULTS: Findings from this quality improvement project led to creation and implementation of a system wide handoff tool. Use of the handoff tool decreased medication errors and improved nursing satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS: Partnering with bedside nursing staff to research and apply system wide quality improvements can increase knowledge and understanding of evidence based practice as well as quality of patient care.