• Stephen James, Sara Quirke, and Karen McBride-Henry.
• S James, Charge Nurse Manager, Intensive Care Unit, Wellington Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand.
• Nurs Crit Care. 2013 Nov 1;18(6):297-306.

BackgroundThe quality of information exchange between intensive care unit (ICU) and ward nurses, when patients are transferred out of intensive care, is important to the continuity of safe care.AimThis research aimed to explore nurses' experiences of the discharge process from ICU to the ward environment.DesignThe study was conducted in a New Zealand Metropolitan hospital, using an exploratory descriptive design we adapted a questionnaire based on Whittaker and Ball's research on ICU patient handover.MethodThe questionnaires were then analysed using a descriptive thematic approach.ResultsThe response rate of 48% included 45 ICU and 47 ward nurses. Key findings were that the written and verbal communication needs differ dependent upon setting and the timing of a discharge. Timing of handover also requires negotiation.ConclusionsBeing able to negotiate the timing and nature of handover is important for nurses. In addition, standardized approaches to communication are believed to enhance patient safety.Relevance To Clinical PracticeStandardized handover, with content and processes that are mutually negotiated, is crucial to providing the safest environment for patients.© 2013 The Authors. Nursing in Critical Care © 2013 British Association of Critical Care Nurses.

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