Clinical Handover at Hospital Night Shift: Review of Challenges and Impacts on Patient Safety and Staff Experiences

Abstract

Safe patient care in hospitals at night is becoming increasingly elusive due to healthcare workers' exhaustion from long work hours, challenges in communication and coordination, and confusion from day-to-night handover. Among these challenges, clinical handover or the transfer of patient information and responsibility between healthcare workers has been among the most difficult issues to address. To develop a deeper understanding of the challenges and implications of clinical handover, we conducted a systematic literature review of clinical handovers during night shifts, highlighting critical issues such as inconsistent information and a lack of standard procedures, which leads to communication gaps and errors. Night shifts also increase stress and health problems for healthcare workers. Future studies should investigate the long-term effects of night shift handovers, the impact of training, and how technology can assist in improving these processes. Enhancing these areas will significantly boost patient safety and maintain workers' well-being.