Technological advances and evolving demands inmedical care have led to challenges in ensuring adequate training for providers of critical care. Reliance on the traditional experience-based training model alone is insu...Technological advances and evolving demands inmedical care have led to challenges in ensuring adequate training for providers of critical care. Reliance on the traditional experience-based training model alone is insufficient for ensuring quality and safety in patient care. This article provides a brief overview of the existing educational practice within the critical care environment. Challenges to education within common daily activities of critical care practice are reviewed. Some practical evidence-based educational approaches are then described which can be incorporated into the daily practice of critical care without disrupting workflow or compromising the quality of patient care. It is hoped that such approaches for improving the efficiency and efficacy of critical care education will be integrated into training programs.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Technological advances and evolving demands inmedical care have led to challenges in ensuring adequate training for providers of critical care. Reliance on the traditional experience-based training model alone is insufficient for ensuring quality and safety in patient care. This article provides a brief overview of the existing educational practice within the critical care environment. Challenges to education within common daily activities of critical care practice are reviewed. Some practical evidence-based educational approaches are then described which can be incorporated into the daily practice of critical care without disrupting workflow or compromising the quality of patient care. It is hoped that such approaches for improving the efficiency and efficacy of critical care education will be integrated into training programs.
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.
