A newly hired graduate nurse is asking the preceptor why the facility uses a standardized template for change-of-shift reports.The preceptor explains that this template is used to:

Question

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Communication failures are the leading cause of patient injury and death, and change-of-shift or handoff reports are a time when communication failures often occur.Eliminating frivolous information from shift reports would certainly be beneficial, because nurses are more likely to listen to reports that are to the point, but this is not the main reason for standardizing shift report.Using a standardized handoff report does ensure that nurses all get the same information about their patients, but this is secondary to minimizing the chance of a communication failure during a high-risk time.A minor benefit of using a standardized reporting format is that it makes it easier for nurses to remember what to say, but this is secondary to minimizing the chance of a communication failure during a high-risk time.

A Newly Hired Graduate Nurse Is Asking the Preceptor Why