To kick off their project to improve handoffs at South Shore Hospital in South Weymouth, MA, Lisa Nolan, RN, AD, a nurse in the surgical ICU, and ED nurse Nicole Howley, RN, BSN, began with a survey to help them find the root causes of poor handoffs.
They sent a survey to the ICU and ED nurses, and 30% responded — a rate higher than expected. The survey used these questions:
- When you called the ICU to give report, were you connected to the nurse the first time?
- Did you follow the SBAR format when giving report?
- Were you interrupted at any point giving report by the receiving RN?
- Were you able to answer all questions asked by the receiving RN?
- Did you as the primary RN accompany/transfer patient to the unit?
- Were you met in the room by the primary RN receiving the patient?
ICU:
- Did you have to call the ED nurse back to receive report?
- Was report given in SBAR format?
- Were there any questions you asked that were unanswered by the ED RN?
- Did you review the “special panels” page or any other patient information online before or during report?
- Did the nurse you received report from transfer the patient to the unit themselves?
- Did the patient arrive to the ICU as you expected based on the report you were given?
- Did you greet the patient in the room upon transfer from the ED?
