Communicating for safety: Effective clinical handover

Clinical handover is about the transferring of all, or part, of a patient’s care between healthcare providers. It is a high risk activity as there is an increased risk of communication errors at these times. For this reason, it is a key aspect of the Australian National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard Six: Communicating for Safety.

Clinical handover occurs many more times a day than at change of shifts. It occurs as patients deteriorate, transfer between units, transfers for tests and imaging, and for many other reasons.
For the patient, each time clinical information is handed over, there is an associated risk. With every subsequent handover, risk multiplies and the associated patient safety risk and potential for adverse outcomes multiplies.

Developing effective clinical handover skills is essential for all nurses and midwives. It is an essential element of professional responsibility and duty of care.
This course provides instruction on the elements required for effective clinical handover and how to put the principles into practice.

Effective clinical handover is an essential element of two national standards:

1. The National Safety and Quality in Health Care Standards, Standard 6: Communicating for Safety.
2. The Aged Care Quality Standards, Standard 3: Personal care and clinical care.

It is essential learning for all healthcare workers.