Date of Conferral

4-15-2025

Date of Award

April 2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Diane Whitehead

Abstract

Nursing bedside handover (NBH) strategies as a nursing practice is often implemented at the patient’s bedside to improve communication safety during the shift change. This practice is vulnerable due to inconsistent application among nurses. This staff education Doctor of Nursing Education project consisted of interviews with staff to explore the barriers to successfully implementing a bedside nurse handoff approach in an intermediate care unit and introducing a staff education program to increase staff knowledge of NBH. Ten registered nurses participated in this project. Results of the pre-education program survey revealed that 100% of the participants had participated in interviews related to the current handoff procedures on their unit. None of the participants were familiar with strategies to overcome the challenges of NBH. Thirty percent of the participants were not confident in implementing NBH, 60% were somewhat confident, but only one participant (10%) was confident in implementing this process. After the education program, 80% of the participants identified the implementation of NBH on the unit as having a positive impact on communication and safety. Participants had mixed responses to a recommended approach to NBH on the unit. Fifty percent of the participants recommended a standardized checklist with patient-centered communication, and 50% recommended only implementing a summary of medical details. Implementing bedside reporting not only enhances patient safety but also fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability, and transparency among healthcare providers. By standardizing bedside handoff practices, healthcare organizations can bridge communication gaps, reduce disparities, and contribute to improved patient outcomes.

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