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Ineffective Handoff Report For Nurses

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According to the first step of Lewin’s theory Unfreeze phase is about helping nurses to recognize the need for change and encourage them to think about what the current process of end of shift reporting, what the disadvantages are, and how it can be improved. According to Sand-Jecklin and Sherman (2014), significant percentage of a nurse’s communications occurs during end of shift handoffs, and the safety of the patient can be compromised at this time. Nurses recognized that patient handoffs as a factor regarding near miss incidents. According to the Joint Commission (2011), miscommunication is one of the factors that leading to sentinel patient events, therefore, it is a requirement of Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals. Nursing handoff report is the time, when responsibility and accountability for the care of a patient would be transferred from one nurse to another. Ineffective handovers, such as when not all required information is provided, can be risky for patients and staffs. According to Novak and Fairchild (2012), the method for delivery of shift report varies among hospitals, units, and nurses. These handoffs occur at busy times with multiple distractions and time constraints. This makes shift-to-shift report a time with high potential for the occurrence of errors related to communication. Reports done away from bedside hinder the patient’s participation in their care, which results in a decrease in patient satisfaction scores. According to Maxson,

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