• Shannon Bakon and Tracey Millichamp.
• Queensland University of Technology Caboolture Campus, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Queensland Health Caboolture Hospital, McKean Street, Caboolture, Queensland 4510, Australia. Electronic address: shannon.bakon@qut.edu.au.
• Australas Emerg Nurs J. 2017 Nov 1; 20 (4): 147-152.

BackgroundThe effective handover of patient health data from the emergency department to other hospital units is integral for the continuity of patient care. Yet no handover process has been identified as superior to others within this context.MethodsThis study within a regional Australian hospital employed mixed methods approach including focus groups and key stakeholder consultation to develop a handover form appropriate for patient transfer from the emergency department to a variety of clinical areas. Paper-based surveys and audits were then employed to evaluate the implementation and understand staff perceptions of the form.ResultsThe implementation of a patient handover form within the emergency setting was well received. Participants indicated that the form is clear, well designed and easy to navigate. It provided prompts to standardise their clinical handover and increased their accountability and responsibility within this process.ConclusionsTo deliver an optimal nursing handover from the emergency department to various wards handovers should be structured and provide standardised content. The positive reception and use of this form provides evidence that a structured handover process can ensure standardisation of emergency department to ward nursing handovers.Copyright © 2017 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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