Nursing outlook
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During a handoff, communication errors can lead to adverse events and suboptimal patient care. As a result, many institutions want to redesign their handoff processes, but have little specific guidance from the literature. We examined two approaches to nursing end-of-shift reports both taped and written, to identify specific factors limiting and facilitating such handoffs. ⋯ Analyses revealed that inadequate information, inconsistent quality, limited opportunity to ask questions, equipment malfunction, insufficient time to generate reports, and interruptions, limited handoffs. Facilitators were "pertinent" content, notes and space for notes, face-to-face interaction, and structured form/checklist. Recommendations for redesign are defining content pertinent to the unit, structuring handoffs so that information is received in a standard way, embedding an opportunity for questions into the process, planning for all 3 handoff subprocesses, and conducting peer evaluations and education.
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This article describes the nursing shortage situation in China and the causes for it. China is a major donor of nurses to other parts of the world and this article discusses the solutions China has implemented to address its nursing shortage, and the challenges that it is currently facing. The strategies that have been employed include: improving the health care system, improving work cultures for increased retention through policy and regulation, making greater investments in nursing education to build sustainable nursing education infrastructures, and enhancing the image of the nursing profession. These solutions may serve as a reference to other countries to deal with the crisis of a nursing shortage.