NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 4

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4005 Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes, and Organizations

Prof. Name

Date

Stakeholder Presentation

Hi, everyone. My name is ______. A planned solution is required at Mercy General Hospital (MGH) to address ineffective communication during nursing shift handovers. It affects safety and care quality. These failures lead to missed information, delays in treatment and increased risks for patients (Chien et al., 2022). I will describe an evidence-based interdisciplinary approach that incorporates SBAR and the TeamSTEPPS® outline to regulate and improve handoff communication. This presentation will frame the plan’s aims, execution steps and the assistance for both patient outcomes and organizational operation. 

Healthcare Challenge within the Organization

The staff at MGH experiences insufficient handover communication during shift handoffs, between nurses who shift from night to day shifts. These failures result in delayed interventions, incomplete data exchange and serious misunderstandings that jeopardize patient safety (Wallace et al., 2023). Ineffective handoff communication contributes to errors, disjointed care and extended hospital stays. This compromises patient outcomes and increases costs.

Previous initiatives lacked consistency, sustainability and interdisciplinary engagement. An evidence-based solution that controls interprofessional collaboration is dynamic. Integrating SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation), TeamSTEPPS (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety) proposes a lasting approach to improving communication and enhancing patient safety.

Consequences of Not Addressing the Issue 

Failure to address inadequate handover communication leads to preventable medical errors. It compromises patient safety. Miscommunication can result in delayed treatments, incorrect medication administration. This fosters staff burnout and reduces team morale. It increases hospital readmissions, liability risks and healthcare costs (Chien et al., 2022). Insistent communication gaps can erode patient trust and satisfaction, damaging the hospital’s reputation. They lead to regulatory non-compliance, exposing the institution to penalties.

Significance of an Interdisciplinary Team Approach

A healthcare squad offers a vital solution for resolving consultation failures during nursing shift handoffs at MGH. The team-based approach engages nurses, physicians, and allied health experts in coordinated communication to guarantee consistent and accurate transfer of clinical data. Research supports that structured tools such as SBAR and practical agendas like TeamSTEPPS improve clarity. It reduces handoff-related errors and enhances patient outcomes (Hamm et al., 2021). SBAR promotes standardized communication during shift transitions. It minimizes ambiguity and confirms continuity of care (Rehm et al., 2021). TeamSTEPPS reinforces collaboration and awareness. This fosters mutual respect and trust among healthcare providers. MGH can reduce miscommunication, elevate patient safety and promote a culture of liability and quality care.

Roles Within the Interdisciplinary Team

The success of this interprofessional effort to enhance nursing shift handoffs at MGH relies on clear roles and responsibilities for all team members. The nurse educator will provide training sessions in SBAR communication and TeamSTEPPS principles so nurses feel comfortable and consistent in the use of these tools at shift change. The unit manager or charge nurse will incorporate these practices into daily shift work routines, troubleshoot workflow obstacles, and ensure adherence.

Nursing staff will be accountable for utilizing SBAR in all handoffs to ensure accuracy and continuity of care. The Quality Improvement (QI) team will monitor handoff-related events, gather feedback, and evaluate communication efficiency throughout the change process. Hospital leadership will endorse the initiative. It offers training materials and engagement through reinforcement and reward (Rehm et al., 2021). Through well-defined role allocation and joint liability, the team will spearhead successful implementation.

Achieving Better Outcomes

The primary goal of this initiative is to generate positive outcomes for patients and the organization by improving nursing shift handoffs. The plan integrates SBAR for standardized communication and applies TeamSTEPPS to strengthen teamwork and ensure sustainable practice change. This combination aims to reduce miscommunication during shift changes, improve care continuity, and enhance patient safety.

Research indicates that hospitals using SBAR and TeamSTEPPS experience fewer clinical errors, better staff coordination, and higher patient satisfaction (Hamm et al., 2021; Rehm et al., 2021). For instance, facilities that have adopted TeamSTEPPS report stronger safety cultures and more efficient teamwork during care transitions. By executing these strategies at MGH nursing handoffs will become more accurate and efficient, reducing treatment delays and improving patient outcomes across the board.

Overview of the Interdisciplinary Plan

Strategic planning and resource allocation are vital to implement the handoff communication program at MGH. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle will guide sustainability efforts and patient safety during changes in shift handoffs (McGovern, 2022).

Planning Phase

MGH will identify key challenges in the Plan phase, such as inconsistent shift handoff communication, lack of standardization, and gaps in collaboration. Nurses, physicians, case managers, and allied health experts will participate in a structured training initiative focusing on SBAR and TeamSTEPPS tools. Standardized communication protocols will be developed, and pre-implementation surveys and safety audits will be conducted to identify existing barriers and tailor the training to specific departmental needs.

Doing Phase

In the Do phase, a pilot program will be launched within selected units to implement SBAR and TeamSTEPPS in real-time handoff scenarios. Staff will engage in simulation-based training to build effective communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Digital tools for handoffs, including electronic SBAR templates integrated into the EHR, will be introduced to support documentation and information transfer. Staff compliance, communication timeliness, and adverse event rates will be monitored during this phase.

Study Phase

Data from the pilot phase will be analyzed to measure the impact on communication efficiency, teamwork, and patient safety indicators such as reduced handoff-related errors. Staff feedback and satisfaction levels will be reviewed to identify areas for improvement. Understandings gained will inform changes to training content, handoff procedures, and integration with existing workflows.

Act Phase

Based on evaluation results, the program will be scaled across MGH to implant SBAR and TeamSTEPPS as standard practice during shift handoffs. Constant support will include regular refresher training, interdisciplinary huddles, and monthly performance reviews. Monitoring systems will guarantee continuous feedback and adaptation, promoting long-term sustainability and enhanced care coordination across units.

Key Roles and Responsibilities of the Interdisciplinary Team

The interdisciplinary team at MGH will consist of the following roles to guarantee the successful execution of improved nursing shift handoffs:

 

• Nurse Educator: Conducts SBAR-focused training sessions twice monthly during the initial two months, ensuring nursing staff gain confidence in structured communication.

• Unit Manager: Monitors the daily use of SBAR during shift changes, conducts weekly check-ins with staff, and addresses workflow-related barriers.

• Nurses: Apply SBAR during every shift handoff. Compliance will be monitored through peer review, observation, and structured feedback.

• Quality Improvement (QI) Team: Collects and analyzes data on shift handoff communication efficiency, tracks near-miss incidents, and compiles monthly reports to measure progress.
• Hospital Leadership: Safeguards sustained support by allocating training resources, encouraging adherence to new practices, and conducting quarterly reviews to assess long-term impact (Toumi et al., 2024).

Resource Allocation and Execution Plan

Implementing the interdisciplinary plan to improve nursing shift handoffs at MGH will require sufficient human, financial, and technological resources. Human resources will include dedicated training staff, a project coordinator to oversee implementation, and protected time for nurses to attend training sessions. Financial resources will fund the development of training materials, software for tracking handoff compliance, and the engagement of external consultants if needed. Fortunately, the hospital already has key technological assets in place, including an electronic health record (EHR) system and internal communication tools.

The execution timeline begins with a two-month initial training phase. During this period, team training including nurses, physicians, and administrative staff will focus on SBAR, I-PASS and TeamSTEPPS principles (Kuriyan et al., 2020). Constant support will occur through quarterly evaluations and feedback sessions. The financial commitment, covering training hours, meetings, and audit evaluations, is estimated between $15,000 and $20,000 annually. The long-term outcomes, such as decreased shift-related errors, enhanced patient safety, and efficient care transitions, make the initiative cost-effective and strategically valuable.

Resource Allocation and Management

Effective management of resources is essential for the plan to succeed in enhancing nursing shift handoffs in MGH. The unit manager and nurse educator will be in charge of the distribution of SBAR training materials and ensure all employees have the proper tools to enhance communication during handoffs. The QI team will be in charge of the process of data collection, analysis of communication errors, and monitoring of response times to measure the impact of the plan. Hospital management will invest in financial resources for technology and training. They offer consistent support through periodic feedback, performance assessment and reward. In managing human as well as financial resources, the hospital ensures sustainable execution of this plan, enhancing communication and patient safety (Toumi et al., 2024).

Assessment of Results

The success of the plan to improve nursing shift handoffs at MGH will be evaluated using evidence-based criteria, including:

• Reduction in reported miscommunication errors: Proper application of the SBAR model is expected to reduce communication errors, accelerate healthcare decisions, and improve patient safety. Studies show that effective implementation of SBAR results in safer patient care with fewer adverse outcomes (Rehm et al., 2021). MGH will use these criteria to assess the success of the plan by tracking the rate of miscommunication incidents during shift handoffs.

• Improved response times during emergencies: Another key evaluation criterion will be the improvement in response times during emergencies, reflecting the enhanced communication facilitated by SBAR and TeamSTEPPS.

• Positive staff feedback on SBAR and TeamSTEPPS: Feedback from staff on their experience using SBAR and TeamSTEPPS will be collected through surveys and direct discussions (Kuriyan et al., 2020). Positive feedback will indicate the success of these tools in improving communication and collaboration during shift handoffs.
• Enhanced patient outcomes: Data on patient outcomes, such as fewer readmissions and improved satisfaction scores, will serve as critical success metrics. Data will be collected through EHR systems, staff surveys, and direct observation. The QI Team will generate monthly reports to track progress and identify areas for further improvement.

By evaluating these criteria, MGH will be able to measure the success of the plan and adjust it as needed to guarantee continuous improvement in nursing shift handoffs.

Conclusion 

The proposed interdisciplinary plan at MGH is to recover nursing shift handoffs through the integration of SBAR and TeamSTEPPS. This plan will decrease miscommunication errors, make care transitions more efficient, and enhance patient outcomes. Having a clear implementation plan, delineated roles and ongoing assessment, this solution presents a durable strategy for an urgent problem.

References

Chien, L. J., Slade, D., Dahm, M. R., Brady, B., Roberts, E., Goncharov, L., Taylor, J., Eggins, S., & Thornton, A. (2022). Improving patient‐centred care through a tailored intervention addressing nursing clinical handover communication in its organizational and cultural context. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(5), 1413–1430. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15110

NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 4

Hamm, B., Pozuelo, L., & Brendel, R. (2021). General hospital agitation management under the lens of leadership theory and health care team best practices using TeamSTEPPS. Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, 63(3), 213–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaclp.2021.10.007

Kuriyan, A., Kinkler, G., Cidav, Z., Kang-Yi, C., Eiraldi, R., Salas, E., & Wolk, C. B. (2020). TeamSTEPPS to improve collaboration in school mental health: Protocol for a mixed-method hybrid effectiveness-implementation study. JMIR Research Protocols, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.2196/26567 

McGovern, V. L. (2022). Quality improvement initiative through staff development: Using education to increase preoperative handoff communication. University of New Hampshire Scholars’ Repository. https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/1605/

Rehm, C., Zoller, R., Schenk, A., Müller, N., Nerschbach, N., Zenker, S., & Schindler, E. (2021). Evaluation of a paper-based checklist versus an electronic handover tool based on the Situation Background Assessment Recommendation (SBAR) concept in patients after surgery for congenital heart disease. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(24), 5724. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10245724

Toumi, D., Dhouib, W., Zouari, I., Ghadhab, I., Gara, M., & Zoukar, O. (2024). The SBAR tool for communication and patient safety in gynaecology and obstetrics: A Tunisian pilot study. BioMed Central Medical Education, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05210-x

NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 4

Wallace, L. A., Schuder, K. K., Loeslie, V., Hanson, A. C., Ongubo, C., Chiarelly, E., Schalla, G., Meek, K. H., & Springer, D. (2023). Improving communication in the medical intensive care unit through standardization of handoff format: A quality improvement project. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes, 7(4), 301–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2023.05.006