Abstract

Ineffective nurse-to-nurse handoff communication is associated with information omissions, diagnostic errors, treatment errors, and delays. New nurses report a lack of confidence and ability in handoff communication, which may stem from inadequate training in prelicensure nursing programs. Our objective was to introduce prelicensure nursing students to a standardized, theory-based method for handoff, including behavioral strategies employed by nurses during interrupted handoff. A handoff education bundle (HEB) was developed. Kern's six-step curriculum model was utilized to design, implement, and evaluate the handoff curriculum. Student feedback highlighted the importance of integrating multiple, varying distractors during learning cycles and recognition of the impact of distractors on handoff. Implementing a HEB at the prelicensure nursing level could promote competency in handoff communication for new graduate nurses. Handoff is an international patient safety priority, as inadequate communication has been linked to adverse patient events.

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