Definition of Statement
Although the recent technological innovations did provide for more opportunities in communication between nursing specialist and their patients, including better chances for providing healthcare services remotely and offering guided assistance to the patients, the basic structure of the doctor-to-patient communication system has not been changed over the past five years; however, in the light of the fact that new technological advances have appeared recently, it is reasonable to suggest that the Nursing Handoff Communication Standard could use a better update.
Introduction
In terms of healthcare and technology, five years is an entire epoch during which the landscape of handoff communication can change radically. In the light of the recent technological innovations, it would be unreasonable to assume that the standards for nursing handoff communication persisted without changing the least bit. However, the key idea behind the communication rules remains the same. Although in the age of advanced technology and communication tools, the opportunities for handoff communication, as well as the methods in which the latter is carried out, have changed drastically, the basic idea behind the nursing handoff communication rules still concerns the same issue of safety, ability to keep in touch with the patient and provide the most accurate instructions, therefore, managing the information transfer process impeccably.
Literature Review
To evaluate the changes that occurred on the chosen time slot, the articles regarding the regulations for nursing specialists published in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009 were chosen. Thus, an objective evaluation of the changes within the field of nursing was possible. It is important to stress that not only technical aspects but mainly the aspects of quality in communication between healthcare specialists and their patients, as well as the information transfer among the healthcare service employees, is going to be considered. It should also be stressed that the sources provided above are listed not in alphabetical, but in chronological order, so that the changes in nursing communication standards should be tracked more easily.
Mascioli, S., Laskowski-Jones, L., Urban, S., & Moran, S. (2009). Improving handoff communication. Nursing 2009, pp. 52–55.
Continuing to research the challenges of handoff communication in nursing, Mascioli, Laskowski-Jones, Urban and Moran addresses the ways in which the existing handoff communication can be improved. In terms of practical significance, the given paper analyzes the obstacles that prevent the XXI-century nursing handoff communication be fast and efficient. What makes the given paper especially important, showing clearly that it stands out of the rest of the sources of the kind, is the fact that Mascioli, Laskowski-Jones, Urban and Moran actually provide an accurate definition of the handoff communication process, therefore, specifying the key stakeholders of the given process and making it possible to work on the strategies that will allow improving the given process: “Handoff communication is the process of passing complete and accurate patient-specific information from one caregiver to another” (Mascioli, Laskowski-Jones, Urban & Moran, 2009, p. 52).
Iacono, M. V. (2010). Handoff communication: Opportunities for improvement. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 24(5), pp 324-326.
Analyzing the issues raised by Mascioli, Laskowski-Jones, Urban and Moran, Iacono updates the argument by exploring the further avenues of communication development in the nursing setting. It is remarkable that Iacono defines incomplete communication as a problematic area when it comes to discussing the specifics of handoff communication process in nursing. In other words, Iacono makes it obvious that in the 2010 nursing setting, inefficient knowledge management among the healthcare service employees creates a potential threat for patients: “There are so many examples of poor communication still evident in the workplace, some of which occur in perioperative and perianesthesia settings” (Iacono, 2010, p. 324). In 2010, Iacono suggested that responsibility should be promoted as the key asset of a nursing specialist.
Popovich, D. (2011). 30-second head-to-toe tool in pediatric nursing: Cultivating safety in handoff communication. Continuing Nursing Education, 37(2), pp. 55–59.
After the basic way of improving the existing practices and the further avenues for implementing these improvements were defined by Iacono, Popovich raised the issue of safety, which was becoming rather topical in the end of 2000ies. Due to the misuse of the innovative technologies and the lack of understanding of how and what for these technologies should be used, nursing specialist encountered many obstacles in improving the quality of communication with the patients. Popovich, in his turn, raised an important issue of safety in communication with patients, therefore, setting the priorities in nursing communication standards improvement straight. The given step can be considered the key milestone in developing the strategies for handoff communication in nursing, since it allows for defining safety as the basic necessity and creating the means to address the emerging safety issue, such as the possible breach of patients’ privacy.
Klee, K., Latta, L., Davis-Kirsch, S., & Pecchia, M. (2012). Using continuous process improvement methodology to standardize nursing handoff communication. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 27(2), pp. 168–173.
Since the key issue that blocks the process of nursing handoff communication was successfully defined in 2011, in 2012, Klee, Latta, Davis-Kirsch and Pecchia suggest the method that can presumably improve handoff communication between the healthcare service employees. By providing the given method, Klee, Latta, Davis-Kirsch and Pecchia move the issue forward, seeking alternative ways to solve the communication problem. Despite the fact that at the given stage, the concept of knowledge sharing has not yet been suggested, the researchers are already approaching the given idea by introducing the idea of continuous process improvement into nursing and adopting the strategy of family inclusion: “To ensure focus on parent/family involvement, staff felt it was important to audit the family’s inclusion in the handoff process” (Klee, Latta, Davis-Kirsch & Pecchia, 2012, p. 172).
Staggers, N. (2013). Computerization in nursing handoffs. American Journal of Nursing, 69(2), 247–262.
With the advent of the era of computerization, the standards for communication in nursing services have to be updated in correspondence with the new demands. To be more exact, online databases should be provided so that the information could be stored in a more efficient way and could be accessed and shaped more easily. Telling about the chances that computerization of nursing handoffs hands to the employees in nursing field, the paper addresses the issue of communication efficiency and the means to enhance it. As the research shows, Staggers (2013) uses the standards adopted in the previous nursing handoffs; therefore, Staggers makes it obvious that in 2013, the basic issues in nursing handoff communication remain the same; moreover, Staggers makes it clear that the traditional methods must be practiced regularly: “Even the best and most flexible of computer systems won’t replace every aspect of standard handoff practice” (Staggers, 2013, p. 262).
Analysis
Judging by the evidence presented in the literature review, it can be assumed that the basic aspects of the Nursing handoff Communication have not been shaped greatly. The key postulates remain the same and revolve around providing patients with extensive information on the issues concerned. The methods with the help of which the communication with patients as well as with the nursing staff, is carried out, has been shaped greatly. It must be admitted, therefore, that certain significant changes have occurred in the realm of using handoff communication over these five years. To start with, the possibility of remote assistance appeared with the advent of the new technology. Thus, the opportunities for providing guidance to the patients have been increased.
Conclusion
It must be admitted that technology has encouraged the development of communication between the nursing care specialists and their patients. With the help of new forms of media, as well as the new technologies that facilitate the information exchange within the realm of the given media, it has become possible to provide an even better quality of communication between patients and the people employed in the healthcare service.
With the help of technology, nursing has evolved to a truly exciting extent over the past five years, which means that there are even more opportunities in terms of communication and knowledge management between the nursing staff. When it comes to discussing the changes that occurred in the nursing handoff communication field, one must mention first the speed and quality of information delivery from a sender to the recipient. Therefore, it is crucial that the latest technology, including the opportunities provided by the Internet and social networking, should be utilized for the purpose of providing impeccable nursing services.
Reference List
Iacono, M. V. (2010). Handoff communication: Opportunities for improvement. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 24(5), pp 324-326.
Klee, K., Latta, L., Davis-Kirsch, S., & Pecchia, M. (2012). Using continuous process improvement methodology to standardize nursing handoff communication. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 27(2), pp. 168–173.
Mascioli, S., Laskowski-Jones, L., Urban, S., & Moran, S. (2009). Improving handoff communication. Nursing 2009, pp. 52–55.
Popovich, D. (2011). 30-second head-to-toe tool in pediatric nursing: Cultivating safety in handoff communication. Continuing Nursing Education, 37(2), pp. 55–59.
Staggers, N. (2013). Computerization in nursing handoffs. American Journal of Nursing, 69(2), 247–262.