Improving Postoperative Handoff Communication in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Project.

Abstract

Purpose: This quality improvement project aimed to improve postoperative handoff communication between anesthesia providers and neuroscience intensive care unit nurses by developing and implementing a standardized postoperative handoff checklist for the neurosurgical patient population.

Design: A quality improvement project. Pre-post interventional design.

Methods: The project team collaborated to develop and implement a standardized neuroscience intensive care unit-specific checklist for postoperative handoff between nursing staff and anesthesia providers. The checklist was designed to standardize communication, ensure completeness of information transfer, and empower nursing staff to ask questions during handoff. Staff education was provided regarding the use and importance of the handoff tool. In addition, staff knowledge and confidence regarding handoff communication were assessed before and after the intervention.

Findings: Implementation of the postoperative handoff checklist resulted in several positive outcomes, including improved knowledge and confidence in information exchange during handoff, enhanced team communication and collaboration, and increased staff satisfaction with the handoff tool. While statistical significance was not achieved for several data points, there was an observable improvement by the participants in all categories involved highlighting the clinical relevance of the intervention.

Conclusions: Implementing a standardized postoperative handoff checklist for a highly complex adult population recovering from neurosurgery shows potential for improving communication and facilitating a systematic information transfer between nursing staff and anesthesia providers. The checklist improved knowledge and confidence among nursing staff during postoperative handoff and empowered them to clarify information and ask questions during transfer of care.