Date of Award

Summer 2024

Project Type

Thesis

College or School

CHHS

Department

Nursing

Departments (Collect)

Department of Nursing

Program or Major

Master of Science, Nursinh

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Elizabeth Evans DNP, RN, CNL

Second Advisor

Pamela S. Kallmerten PhD, DNP, RN, CNL

Abstract

Background: Effective communication during patient handoffs is crucial for ensuring patient safety and continuity of care. The I-PASS handoff tool has been identified as an effective method to standardize communication and reduce errors during these critical transitions.

Local Problem: In the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) of a hospital in New England, the lack of standardized procedures for nurse handoffs posed a risk to patient safety and care quality.

Methods: A quality improvement project was conducted using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle to implement and evaluate an educational intervention aimed at improving PACU nurses' proficiency with the I-PASS handoff tool. Pre- and post-intervention surveys measured changes in nurses' perceptions and confidence.

Results: Post-intervention results indicated an increase in familiarity with I-PASS from 67% to 83% among nurses, and confidence in its application reached 100%. However, engagement was lower than expected, with only 6 out of 14 nurses completing both surveys.

Conclusion: The educational intervention significantly improved PACU nurses' familiarity and confidence with the I-PASS handoff tool, highlighting its potential to enhance handoff practices across healthcare settings. To sustain and spread these benefits, future initiatives should focus on integrating the training into ongoing professional development and addressing barriers to engagement. Further research is recommended to quantify the impact of improved handoff practices on patient outcomes.

Download

Share

COinS