Nursing interventions to ensure the safety of critically ill patients in intrahospital transportation: A scoping review

Background: Intrahospital transportation of critically ill patients is a high-risk process, frequently linked to complications and increased vulnerability to adverse events. Ensuring safety requires nursing interventions that uphold the standards of care provided in critical care units. Objective: To identify nursing interventions that promote patient safety during intrahospital transportation. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O'Malley's framework. The search was performed in 2024 across PubMed and EBSCOhost (CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE Complete, Nursing & Allied Health Collection: Comprehensive, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials). Results: Seven publications met the criteria. All studies emphasized the need for strategies to prevent complications during transport. Four categories of interventions emerged: identification and management of adverse events, use of checklists, continuous nurse training, and effective communication. Conclusions: Nurses play a pivotal role in maintaining safety and quality of care. By applying evidence-based strategies, they minimize risks and ensure safer intrahospital transportation.