Communication in nursing shift handover: Pediatric patient safety

Abstract

Qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study. The aim of this study was to discover how nursing professionals perceive the communication during shift handover and its repercussion in pediatric patient safety. This study was performed at a Pediatric Inpatient Unit of a University Hospital in the South of Brazil. Data was collected by a semi-structured interview, involving 32 nursing professionals. To analyze the data, thematic analysis was used. Data was grouped in categories: shift handover and its interface with communication. The results evidenced the importance of shift handover, in which effective communication is essential for safe care. However, greater objectivity is needed in the information transmission, the time used needs to be reduced and the shift handover records need to be systemized.