title: Using continuous process improvement methodology to standardize nursing handoff communication.
abstract: The purpose of this article was to describe the use of continuous performance improvement (CPI) methodology to standardize nurse shift-to-shift handoff communication. The goals of the process were to standardize the content and process of shift handoff, improve patient safety, increase patient and family involvement in the handoff process, and decrease end-of-shift overtime. This article will describe process changes made over a 4-year period as result of application of the plan-do-check-act procedure, which is an integral part of the CPI methodology, and discuss further work needed to continue to refine this critical nursing care process.
authors.affiliation: Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA. kristi.klee@seattlechildrens.org
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klee
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Latta
authors.forename: Sallie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davis-Kirsch
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pecchia
mesh_terms: D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D016730:Program Development; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*