Intershift report: A standard for handovers

Abstract

An analysis of the nursing literature on the subject of handovers or 'intershift reports' revealed little authoritative literature on the subject and a lack of any conceptual consistency on the matter. Handovers appear to fit into two main camps: those that have adopted primarily a managerial agenda, and those that serve a predominantly psychosocial function. It is suggested that such a dichotomy of opinion is too rigid and that both agendas can be satisfied if handovers are utilised flexibly. A standard for handovers is constructed, which brings together some key findings in an attempt to define 'best practice' on this subject. Donabedian's structure-process-outcome framework is taken as the theoretical basis for the standard because it is widely used in standard-setting today and therefore can be seen as being authoritative.