The Use of a Digital Structured Format for Nursing Shift Handover to Improve Communication

Nursing shift handover is a vital part of clinical care where relevant patient information needs to be communicated accurately and precisely, to ensure continuity of care and patient safety. Poor communication and lack of structured format are contributing factors in adverse incidents where patient care is put at risk. This ethnographic study reports on a computerised structured format for nursing shift handover using the ISBAR3 communication tool. 20 shift handovers pre-and post-implementations of ISBAR3 tool were observed. The time taken for handover has substantial reduced from an average of 31 minutes to 27 minutes (1.7 minutes to 1.5 minutes per patient), i.e. 4 minutes in each handover. Use of an electronic structured format replaced the traditional way of handover to a systematic, precise, accurate, relevant mode of updated communication in a very short period of time. Successful implementation of the ISBAR3 handover tool with e-technology in gynaecology supports the roll-out of this mode of communication to other nursing and maternity services in the hospital. As well as saving time, implementation of the ISBAR3 handover tool enhances communication, and reduces the risks to patient safety.