Abstract
Effective communication during nursing handoffs is essential for safe, patient-centered care, as breakdowns in communication are a leading cause of adverse patient outcomes. At a large academic level I trauma center, inconsistent nursing handoff practices were identified across progressive care units following the COVID-19 pandemic. This variability contributed to incomplete transfer of patient information and was associated with increased patient safety incidents, including delayed wound care, central line dressing lapses, and medication errors involving high-alert therapies. The purpose of this DNP project was to plan, implement, and evaluate the use of standardized nursing handoff sheet and its impact on continuity of care, communication consistency, and patient safety outcomes on a trauma/surgical progressive care unit. A standardized handoff sheet was developed and implemented to improve the structure and consistency of shift-to-shift communication. The project was guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework. Nursing staff received education prior to implementation, and the tool was used consistently over a 12-week period. Compliance with handoff sheet use and staff-reported perceptions of communication quality, were tracked throughout the implementation process. This practice change initiative[TJS1] improved consistency in handoff communication ,enhanced nurse-reported efficiency and increased satisfaction with handoff communication, accuracy and usability. Overall, the findings support the use of a standardized nursing handoff sheet as an effective strategy to improve continuity of care and reduce communication variability in an acute care setting. Top of Form
Keywords: nurse-to-nurse communication, nurse handoffs
[TJS1]I suggest that you refer to your project in this way throughout the paper.
Language
English
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Level of Degree
Doctoral
Department Name
College of Nursing
Keywords
nurse-to-nurse communication, nurse handoffs
Recommended Citation
Sanya, Elizabeth Ifeloluwa. "Improving Continuity of Care: Evaluating Universal Nursing Handoff Sheets." (2026). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/dnp/61