A Quality Improvement Project: Implementation of a Standardized Handoff Report for Nurse Anesthetists in the Post-Operative Setting

Abstract

Handoff report is a critical time during patient care where information is transferred between providers. An incomplete handoff report can have negative consequences such as patient harm, decreases in patient safety, and dissatisfaction for all members of the team. This quality improvement project focused on the implementation of a standardized handoff tool utilized in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit by CRNAs while giving handoff report to PACU nurses. A pre-intervention survey was distributed to CRNAs at a small rural hospital and then a standardized handoff tool was introduced that was to be used for two weeks in their PACU. After each report using the standardized tool, the PACU nurses were to complete a survey regarding the tool. After the implementation period was completed, the CRNAs were sent a post-intervention survey addressing their perceptions of the handoff tool. Overall, the handoff tool led to a complete report without missing information. The PACU nurses and CRNAs did not want to adopt this tool into their practice for reasons such as length, too extensive, and low efficiency. Limitations were a low number of participants, short implementation period, and limited interactions due to COVID-19. A future suggestion is to create a standardized handoff tool specific to the unit with what they consider pertinent information.