Improving communication of the daily care plan in a teaching hospital intensive care unit

Abstract

Background: Patients admitted to intensive care units have complex care needs. Accordingly, communication and handover of the medical care plan is very important. Objective: To assess changes in ICU nurses' understanding of the medical daily care plan after development and implementation of a pro forma to improve documentation and communication of the plan. Design, setting and participants: The study was conducted between February and November 2012 in a mixed medical-surgical, 18-bed, closed ICU in a teaching hospital. Baseline and post-intervention surveys assessed ICU bedside nurses' self-reported understanding of elements of the daily care plan. Intervention: After receiving input from be..