Patient safety and medical errors are a major problem globally, nationally, and in the state of Utah. St. Mark’s hospital also has the need for improvement in patient quality of care and safety. Improved nurse handoff report is one recommendation to improve patient safety and quality of care and decrease errors. Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation (SBAR) is a method that improves quality, efficiency, and satisfactions. It has also been shown to improve patient safety, quality of care, and decrease errors. The project’s objective was to improve the efficiency, quality, and satisfaction of nurse handoff report. An SBAR based handoff form was introduced to the staff. A pre- and post- intervention Handover Evaluation Scale was given to evaluate the increase of the quality, efficiency, and satisfaction of nurse handoff report. The Stetler model was used as an evidence-based practice model for framework. Both the Stetler Model and Story theory could function together to serve as a single framework for the project. Findings were consistent with the literature. There was an increase in the efficiency, quality, and satiisfaction of nurse handoff report. This was noted in the demographic of the clinical supervisor and change RNs. It was found that education may be an important factor in the success of an SBAR based handoff approach. SBAR based nurse handoff report should be implemented in practice. The approach could be adapted in a way that allows the process to become more efficient.
