Clinical handover education programme and videos

Clinical handover

Clinical handover refers to the transfer of professional responsibility and accountability for some or all aspects of care for a patient, or group of patients, to another person or professional group on a temporary or permanent basis. While clinical handover has been identified, both nationally and internationally, as a high risk step in a patient’s hospital journey providing a unique opportunity for a range of healthcare professionals to work together to optimise patient safety, it is also recognised as an important source of error (NCG No. 11, NCEC, DoH, 2015).

Risks associated with clinical handover include inappropriate or delayed treatment, loss of trust and confidence amongst staff and patients in the performance of the healthcare system (NCG No. 11, NCEC, DoH, 2015).

Effective clinical handover can be enabled by having clear procedures, supportive work environments and educating staff on the potential work of handover on patient safety (NCG No. 11, NCEC, DoH, 2015). Within the National Clinical Guideline on Communication (Clinical Handover) in Acute and Children’s Hospital Services, National Clinical Guideline No 11. (NCEC, DoH, 2015) there are a number of key recommendations which support effective clinical handover. The relevant recommendations for best practice in clinical handover are included in this education programme.

Clinical handover videos

Clinical Handover: An Interdisciplinary Education Programme

Introduction

The interdisciplinary education programme (2017) is a quality improvement initiative. The programme is supported by the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) and the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Units (NMPDU), Dublin South, Kildare & Wicklow and the Midlands region.

Programme Learning Outcomes

The education programme:

facilitates nursing, midwifery and healthcare assistant staff within all clinical settings to implement best practice clinical handover processes – the principles of the programme can be applied to all inter-disciplinary members of the healthcare team
supports the use of recognised communication tools to inform clinical handover (NCG No. 11, NCEC, DoH, 2015)

These tools include:

ISBAR3 to support inter-departmental and shift clinical handovers
ISBAR to support communication in relation to a deteriorating patient

Programme Details

The four hour education programme delivery is supported by a Resource Manual and Facilitator Guide and a Participant Workbook.
The programme is designed as a facilitator-led programme with face to face/classroom delivery using the video recordings for each handover type as outlined in the Resource Manual and Facilitator Guide.
The programme is designed for local delivery by local practice development/clinical facilitator staff or other nursing staff who are familiar with facilitation.
The programme incorporates reflection, discussion and group work.
The programme includes scenario video recordings. The scenarios illustrate examples of existing and best practices and provide a practical demonstration of the principles of using a structured and standardised approach to clinical handover.
The programme uses role play and vignettes. This provides participants the opportunity to consolidate the knowledge obtained and reflect on clinical handover processes.

Approval

The programme has received Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland category 1 approval and has been awarded 4 continuing education units.

Contact

Further details can be obtained by contacting:

Denise Doolan - NMPDU Officer, NMPDU Dublin South Kildare Wicklow

Phone: 01 620 1735

denise.doolan@hse.ie

Related topics
Communication (Clinical Handover) in Acute and Children’s Hospital Services National Clinical Guideline No. 11: Department of Health, 2015 (health.gov.ie)
Communication (Clinical Handover) in Maternity Services National Clinical Guidelines No. 5: Department of Health, 2014 (health.gov.ie)

Clinical handover education programme and videos