Nurses’ perceptions of bedside clinical handover in a medical-surgical unit: An interpretive descriptive study

Abstract

Background: Clinical handover is the transfer of relevant and important information and responsibility for patient care from one healthcare provider to another. An effective clinical handover is determined by the transition of critical information and the continuity of quality care for the patient. In the inpatient settings, bedside clinical handover mainly occurs during shift changes (morning to afternoon shift, afternoon to night shift and night to morning shift). Bedside clinical handover can take place in a cohort room of up to six patients or a single-bedded room with only one patient. Various nurses in the nursing hierarchy are involved in the handover, each contributing to ensure patients’ safety and continuity of quality care. Aim: To explore nurses’ perceptions of bedside clinical handover in an inpatient acute-care ward in Singapore. Methodology: An interpretive, descriptive, qualitative study was conducted using focus group interviews with semi-structured questions. The interviews were conducted with 20 nurses from an acute-care hospital in Singapore. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Nurses described that bedside clinical handover could potentially compromise patient’s confidentiality and that the patient and/or their family members and the environment were sources of constant interruptions and distractions. Bedside clinical handover also acted as a platform for communication amongst nurses and between nurses and patients. Conclusion: This study provided an insight into nurses’ perceptions of bedside clinical handover and offered a foundation for nurses to improve the handover process.