Research article summary (published 30 Jul 2008):

Nursing handover within mental health rehabilitation: an exploratory study of practice and perception.

Full Abstract

Nursing handover is an established practice that involves an interchange of information between nurses to inform of the condition of patients. It is essential to nursing practice in terms of continuity and quality of patient care. However, there is a lack of agreement about the quality, content, and process of handover and, in particular, a lack of information specific to mental health contexts. This paper reports the results of exploratory research of the practice and beliefs about verbal nursing handover within an inpatient mental health rehabilitation setting. Qualitative data were obtained from audiotaped handovers and interviews with nurses and analysed using content analysis. Handovers were found to lack structure and content, be retrospective, problem-focused and inconsistent. The findings were fairly consistent with the literature and would likely be applicable across nursing settings; however, the need to appraise nursing handover in unique contexts was also revealed. The study raised questions about how nursing handover reflects the goals and philosophies of mental health rehabilitation and whether nursing handover is an activity fully integrated with the focus of mental health rehabilitation.

Author information

Author/s: McCloughen, Andrea (A); O'Brien, Louise (L); Gillies, Donna (D); McSherry, Caroline (C);

Affiliation: Sydney West Area Health Service-Mental Health Network, Cumberland Hospital, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. andrea_mccloughen(-atsign-)wsahs.nsw.gov.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: International journal of mental health nursing (Int J Ment Health Nurs), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Aug; vol 17 (issue 4) : pp 287-95

Dates: Created 2008/07/31; Completed 2008/10/24;

PMID: 18666912, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Attitude of Health Personnel Clinical Competence Communication Continuity of Patient Care - organization & administration Evidence-Based Medicine Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Health Services Needs and Demand Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, Public Humans Interprofessional Relations Mental Disorders - nursing; rehabilitation

New South Wales Nurse's Role - psychology Nursing Methodology Research Nursing Records Nursing Staff, Hospital - education; organization & administration; psychology Patient Care Planning - organization & administration Philosophy, Nursing Practice Guidelines as Topic Psychiatric Nursing - organization & administration Qualitative Research Questionnaires Self Efficacy

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