The handover: uncovering the hidden practices of nurses

摘要: This paper considers the ways in which nursing handover involves a complex network of communication that impacts on interactions. The critical ethnographic study upon this is based involved research group six nurses who worked one care unit. Data-collection methods professional journalling, participant observation, and individual focus interviews. took many forms served different purposes. At start shift, nurse coordinator previous shift presented 'global' all patients to oncoming nurses. Nurses proceeded then bedside handover, where intention changed from broad overview patients, concentrated patient's needs. Data analysis identified five practices for consideration: global serving needs coordinators; examination; tyranny tidiness; busyness; need create sense finality. In challenging nurses' understanding these practices, they can become more sensitive other needs, thus promoting process as site collaborative supportive communication.