Background/Aims To observe and compare existing nursing handover practice with national recommendations and establish a local model to facilitate the implementation, monitoring and maintenance of best practice. Methods Nursing handover practice was observed using a defined format, collecting qualitative data on structure, safety issues, communication, transfer of information, relevance, and record accuracy and timeliness. Focus groups employed structured interviews regarding effective nursing handover practices based on open-ended questions. These sessions were audio-recorded using transcription conventions that indicate basic conversational turn taking. Results The observed handovers revealed several deficiencies including an inadequate location for the handover, a lack of a structured model and failures in communication. However, in 80% of cases, time was set aside for a handover and this was well attended. Conclusion Current handover practice is inadequate and needs improvement. Nursing culture is shaped by many internal factors, including barriers such as poor communication and leadership. Additionally, a shared mental model among the nursing team offers effective information transfer by concise, factual communication. Structuring a handover using the situation, background, assessment, and recommendations can provide a standard communication framework for patient care handovers.