Improving the Quality of Effective Nursing Handover in the Inpatient Ward

Background: Handover is a critical process in nursing services that impacts continuity of care and patient safety. However, the implementation of handover often encounters challenges related to effective communication and the consistent application of standard procedures. Objective: This mini-project aims to optimize the implementation of handover in inpatient units through a systematic approach, which includes the development of guidelines and the adoption of the SBAR communication method. Methods: The approach used in this mini-project follows Kurt Lewin's stages of planned change (unfreezing, movement, and refreezing). Problem analysis was conducted using the Ishikawa diagram along with the POSAC management function approach. The implementation took place in the inpatient ward of Hospital during the period of September to October 2024, involving the nursing service work team, nursing committee, unit leaders, and 15 implementing nurses. Results: The results of the study demonstrated an increase in understanding of the handover guidelines and SOPs, reaching 93.1%, with a level of implementation compliance of 81.14%. All critical aspects, such as patient identification and patient safety, reached an understanding level of 100%. Conclusion: Optimizing the implementation of handover through the development of guidelines and the adoption of SBAR can enhance the effectiveness of communication and improve nurse compliance in the handover process. Recommendations include formal approval of guidelines and SOPs, strengthening tiered supervision, continuous compliance monitoring, and improving SBAR communication competency.