Describe how members of the healthcare team exchange critical patient information. Identify the types of handoff you witnessed and/or participated in. Where did the handoff listed above occur?
Professional Communication Assignment
During a clinical day you will observe and participate in handoff and complete the following assignment. The assignment typed on the format provided. References that guided the development of this assignment are listed below. They will be useful to you in completing the assignment. The grading rubric is found on the last page.
To access chapter 34 of the handbook: copy/paste the link below in your browser. Scroll down the page and click on chapter 34.
OR copy/paste this link into your browser: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2649/
- Identify the members of the healthcare team present during your clinical day by position title
(example: RN, UAP, attending provider, consulting provider, respiratory therapist, dietary, housekeeping, unit secretary, etc.)
- Describe how members of the healthcare team exchange critical patient information.
- Identify the types of handoff you witnessed and/or participated in.
- Where did the handoff listed above occur?
- Document your shift-to-shift handoff which you provided to your primary nurse
- List 5 internal and/or external factors that may contribute to handoff communication errors?
- List 2 strategies that may reduce each error listed above
- Identify handoff tools used at your clinical facility
- What could you do differently when giving handoff to increase patient safety?
- The assignment is completed in a professional manner. Correct writing mechanics are utilized. Report is typed.
References
Friesen, M., White, S., & Byers, J. (2008). Handoffs: Implications for nurses. In A. f. Quality, Safety and Quality: An evidenced-based handbook for nurses.
Sherwood, G. (2014). Quality and safety in nursing education: The QSEN project. In B. Cherry, S. Jacob, & 6 (Ed.), Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, and management (pp. 398-399). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
| Criteria | Observation |
| Identify the members of the healthcare team present during your clinical day by position title (Example: RN, UAP, attending provider, consulting provider, respiratory therapist, dietary, housekeeping, unit secretary, etc.)
|
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| Describe how members of the healthcare team exchange critical patient information. |
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| Identify the types of handoff you witnessed and/or participated in |
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| Where did the various types of handoff occur |
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| Document your shift-to-shift handoff |
|
| List 5 factors that contribute to handoff errors and 2 strategies to reduce each error | 1. a. b. 2. a. b. 3. a. b. 4. a. b. |
| What handoff tools were used at your facility?
| |
| What could you do different to increase patient safety during handoff? |
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| Therapeutic Communication Grading Rubric | |||
| Criterion | Satisfactory (10 points) | Needs Improvement (5 points) | Unsatisfactory (0 points) |
| 1. Identify members of healthcare team | At least four members are identified | 3 members are identified | 2 or fewer members are identified |
| 2. Exchange of critical information | Thoroughly discusses how members of the healthcare team exchange critical patient information | Briefly discusses how members of the healthcare team exchange critical patient information | Does not discuss how members of the healthcare team exchange critical patient information |
| 3. Types of handoff witnessed or participate in | Lists two or more types of handoff witnessed or participate in | Lists one type of handoff witnessed or participate in | Does not list types of handoff witnessed or participated in during the clinical day |
| 4.Location of where handoff occurred | Location where handoff occurred is listed | Not applicable | Does not list location of where handoff occurred |
| 5.Document shift to shift handoff | Shift to shift handoff is documented | Not applicable | Does not document shift to shift handoff |
| 6. List factors that may contribute to handoff errors | Lists five or more factors that may contribute to handoff errors | Lists four or less factors that may contribute to handoff errors | Lists three or less factors that may contribute to handoff errors |
| 7. List strategies to reduce handoff errors | Lists two strategies to reduce each handoff error contributor | Lists one strategy to reduce each handoff error contributor | Lists less than one strategy to reduce each handoff error contributor |
| 8. List handoff tools used at the clinical facility | Lists handoff tools used at the clinical facility | Not applicable | Does not list handoff tools used at the clinical facility |
| 9. What could you do differently | Reflects on how to increase patient safety through appropriate handoff | Not applicable | Does not reflect on how to increase patient safety through appropriate handoff |
| 10.Professionalism | Assignment is typed, APA citation used where appropriate, used proper writing techniques. | Not applicable | Assignment is not typed, APA citation used where appropriate, used proper writing techniques. |
