Assessing handover process and communication among registered nurses at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Effective handover within health care setting is vital to patient safety as it helps in preventing errors and reducing risks. However, nursing handovers

appears to be an area that has received limited research focus. This study

explored handover process and content of communication among registered nurses at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH). Specifically, it assessed handover process among registered nurses using the Nursing and Midwifery

Council (NMC) of Ghana handing over protocol as a guide, described the

content of communication in handover from one nurse to the other and

identified factors influencing the types of information outgoing nurses’ handover to incoming nurses. A descriptive qualitative case study design was employed. Thirty-three inter-shift handovers were assessed using an

observational checklist developed from the Nurses and Midwifery Council

handing over protocol and ten shift ward in-charges were interviewed using a

semi-structured interview guide developed. The observational checklist was analysed using percentages and frequencies, whilst the transcribed data from the interview was coded and analyzed thematically which generated three

categories and eleven subcategories. The study showed there was limited

adherence to the handover process by the registered nurses as directed by the

Nurses and Midwifery Council’s protocol on handover. Key content of the communication component included patient identification information, nursing information, medical information and clinical state. It was

recommended that the CCTH nursing management will adopt a

communication tool or checklist such as SBAR to enhance effective

communication during handover.