Question

why is it important to provide a thorough and accurate hand off report to the nurse who will be assuming care of the patient?

Answer 1

Importance of hand off report to the nurse:

Hand off is a process of transferring a patient from the care of a physician or a team of physicians and other health care providers, along with the essential information of the patient and the treatment or disease 's details. Hand off report is an important medical document and it should be thorough and accurate so that it will ensure the continuity of care and safety of the patient. This report usually writes, when there is a care shift from one Health care provider to another healthcare provider.

Hand off report should be thorough, so that it can effectively support the transition of critical information. If the hand off report is not accurate, it may cause :

* Duplication of work

* Wrong drug administration

* Failure in providing needed intervention ( breaches)

* Gaps in patient care.  

* Risk of wrong site surgeries.

In total ,inaccurate and incomplete hand off reports may possess,   risk for patients safety and death. The nurse who is going to assume the care for the patient, should receive a thorough and accurate hand off report . Use a good communication method ,  standard medical terminologes and abbreviation, otherwise the charge nurse may get confused and it can lead to wrong perception and interventions, that inturn may result in danger for patient's health and continuity of care.