Handoff

: barreiras e indicadores de resultados

Abstract

The present Report, encompassed in the curricular plan of the Masters Course in Nursing Specialization in Medical-Surgical Nursing, of the Health Sciences Institute of the Portuguese Catholic University, intends to demonstrate in a critical and pondered way the competences developed during the internships. This report addresses the development of differentiated competences concerning the provision of nursing care to critically ill adult and elderly people and their families. These internships took place in the intensive care unit and general emergency service of two major hospitals from Lisbon, and allowed for the deepening and mobilization of knowledge I had acquired during the theoretical part of this master's degree as well as during in my career in the field of nursing care for patients submitted to gastroenterological and pulmonary endoscopic exams. Specific aims were outlined with the intent to provide specialized nursing care to the critically ill person and family in multiple contexts, as well as to contribute to the improvement of the quality of nursing care regarding the transmission of information and responsibility over the patient among health professionals, termed Handoff. In the context of intensive care, additionally to providing specialized nursing care, it was possible for me to advance my knowledge on high-flow nasal cannula, which culminated in the presentation of a training session for nurses. In the emergency context, it was possible for me to mobilize the knowledge I had acquired during my professional experience and develop a training action on the approach to critical patients suffering of upper digestive hemorrhage. Regarding Handoff, a concept which is transversal to all sections of this report, I have promoted the reflection and sharing of experiences on the matter based on national legislation, and addressed all questions raised along the way through a systematic review of the literature on this topic. Handoff in nursing is subject to constant study and, at a time when it is normalized through the ISBAR methodology, there are still doubts surrounding this process, the barriers to it, and its standardization. The questions at the basis of the systematic review of the literature were "What are the barriers to effective Handoff?" and "What are the outcomes for patient safety with the use of Handoff methods?”. This Master's degree course allowed me to not only consolidate my knowledge and to develop competences based on my professional learning, but also to provide specialized nursing care in a critical and conscientious way, based on knowledge obtained through research.

Date of Award	8 Apr 2019
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Manuela Madureira (Supervisor)