Investigating the impact of nursing shift change audit on the safety of emergency department patients

Introduction: Nursing care is complex and critical, emphasizing the importance of standardized communication methods for conveying health information. Nurses working different shifts exchange treatment details and patient information during shift handover. By utilizing the SBAR method for shift handover, nurses can ensure that the receiving nurse has a comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition. Conducting shift change audits allows for comparison of the current shift practices with standard protocols, enabling the identification and resolution of any issues. Implementing targeted reporting strategies during shift changes can help address challenges and improve the effectiveness of health information transfer.

Objective: The study was conducted to investigate the impact of auditing nursing shift changes on patient safety in the emergency department of a hospital in Tehran.

Methods: The present study is a semi-experimental study conducted on 35 nurses and 70 patients in a convenience sample before and after the intervention. The study took place in the emergency department of a hospital in Tehran during 2023-2024. Initially, nurses' shift work, patient safety, and nurses' satisfaction were assessed using a questionnaire. The current situation was then compared with the SBAR checklist, and an SBAR training program was developed for nurses. Interventions included theoretical training sessions on using the SBAR method during shift changes and the presentation of a training video. After completing the educational interventions, the materials were reviewed, problems were addressed, and nurses' shift changes were evaluated using the SBAR checklist, along with completion of a patient safety questionnaire.

Results: The study found that the SBAR score significantly increased after the intervention (49.49) compared to before (21.31) (P < 0.05). Additionally, patient safety scores significantly improved after the intervention (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Implementing a targeted and integrated approach to shift work based on the SBAR method can help address challenges in nursing shift delivery, improve the nursing care process, and enhance patient safety.