Dear editor, In July 2015, a 39-year-old gravida 2, para 0 lady at 35 weeks＇ gestation was found collapsed at home and sent to the emergency department （ED） by ambulance. She had a background of chronic hypertensio...Dear editor, In July 2015, a 39-year-old gravida 2, para 0 lady at 35 weeks＇ gestation was found collapsed at home and sent to the emergency department （ED） by ambulance. She had a background of chronic hypertension on anti- hypertensives and aspirin, but repeatedly refused in- patient treatment for her uncontrolled hypertension. She had received pre-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation （CPR） for 17 minutes en route to the ED.展开更多
Objective: To propose approaches to improve nursing handoffs for surgical patients, including standardization. Background: Handoffs, or the transfer of accountability and patient information, can generate potential ri...Objective: To propose approaches to improve nursing handoffs for surgical patients, including standardization. Background: Handoffs, or the transfer of accountability and patient information, can generate potential risks for patient safety. Standardization has been proposed to help improve handoffs. Methods: After observing 333 nursing handoffs in the surgical wards of our institution, we conducted a thematic content analysis, comparing and contrasting the observations. Results: Handoff processes, including the use of support tools, varied among the observations. Common themes in the handoff content suggested possibilities of standardization. About half of the 51 interruptions occurring during the observed handoffs were by healthcare professionals. Conclusions: Standardization to improve handoffs should address both the content and the process. Interruptions were common and should be avoided whenever possible. Future studies should also consider the use of mobile applications to support handoffs and clinical documentation.展开更多
文摘Dear editor, In July 2015, a 39-year-old gravida 2, para 0 lady at 35 weeks＇ gestation was found collapsed at home and sent to the emergency department （ED） by ambulance. She had a background of chronic hypertension on anti- hypertensives and aspirin, but repeatedly refused in- patient treatment for her uncontrolled hypertension. She had received pre-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation （CPR） for 17 minutes en route to the ED.
文摘Objective: To propose approaches to improve nursing handoffs for surgical patients, including standardization. Background: Handoffs, or the transfer of accountability and patient information, can generate potential risks for patient safety. Standardization has been proposed to help improve handoffs. Methods: After observing 333 nursing handoffs in the surgical wards of our institution, we conducted a thematic content analysis, comparing and contrasting the observations. Results: Handoff processes, including the use of support tools, varied among the observations. Common themes in the handoff content suggested possibilities of standardization. About half of the 51 interruptions occurring during the observed handoffs were by healthcare professionals. Conclusions: Standardization to improve handoffs should address both the content and the process. Interruptions were common and should be avoided whenever possible. Future studies should also consider the use of mobile applications to support handoffs and clinical documentation.
