Transfer Checklist: Improving Outcomes for Cardiac Intensive Care Patients

Abstract

Patient transfers are common occurrences in hospital intensive care units. It is a complicated process, which, when inadequate, is associated with negative patient outcomes. These outcomes include medication errors, increased morbidity and mortality, extended hospital stay, ICU readmission, and higher healthcare cost. A standardized transfer checklist is a tool to enhance the quality of care and patient safety. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was conducted in an adult cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) at a large academic tertiary care hospital in central North Carolina. This project aimed to develop and implement a standardized transfer checklist and assess the impact of the checklist on nurses’ perceptions of patient safety and satisfaction with the new transfer process. The project also evaluated the association of the checklist with CICU readmission rates. The project utilized a pre- and post-test study design. Based on the survey results, most of the participating RNs agreed that the new transfer checklist was easy to use, comprehensive, and efficient, and it contributed to increased patient safety and decreased number of transfer errors. The participants were satisfied with the new transfer process and would like to continue its use in the future. The checklist also reduced the number of CICU readmissions by 1.5%.