CELBAN CELBAN Nurse Handover and Shift Communication 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During bedside handover, the patient says, 'No one told me I was going for a scan tomorrow.' What is the nurse's best response?
- That's not my problem — ask the day nurse.
- I'm sorry for the confusion. Let me check the orders and explain what the scan involves. (Correct answer)
- You must have forgotten; it was definitely explained.
- I'll leave a note for the next shift to deal with it.
Correct answer: I'm sorry for the confusion. Let me check the orders and explain what the scan involves.
Acknowledging the patient's concern, apologizing for any communication gap, and immediately providing information demonstrates patient-centered care.
Question 2: Which of the following is the most appropriate closing statement in a verbal handover report?
- That's all I know. Good luck.
- Do you have any questions or anything you'd like me to clarify before I leave? (Correct answer)
- You can read the rest in the chart.
- I'm too tired to say more — the rest is standard.
Correct answer: Do you have any questions or anything you'd like me to clarify before I leave?
Inviting questions at the end of handover ensures the incoming nurse has full understanding and promotes safe care transitions.
Question 3: A charge nurse notices that a handover report says 'patient is stable' but no vital signs or assessments are mentioned. What is the main problem with this handover?
- It is too detailed and wastes time
- It lacks specific clinical data to support the assessment (Correct answer)
- The patient should have been mentioned last
- It should have been written, not spoken
Correct answer: It lacks specific clinical data to support the assessment
Saying a patient is 'stable' without supporting data such as vitals, recent assessments, or labs does not give the incoming nurse enough clinical information.
Question 4: When a nurse receives a handover and is unsure about an unfamiliar medication listed in the plan, what should they do?
- Administer it and look it up later
- Skip the dose until the next nurse handles it
- Ask the outgoing nurse for clarification or consult a drug reference before administering (Correct answer)
- Wait for the physician to arrive the next morning
Correct answer: Ask the outgoing nurse for clarification or consult a drug reference before administering
Clarifying unfamiliar medications before administering them is a critical patient safety practice and a professional nursing responsibility.
Question 5: Which scenario describes the best use of written handover documentation alongside a verbal report?
- Writing notes to replace verbal communication entirely
- Using a written summary sheet to ensure no key points are missed during verbal handover (Correct answer)
- Recording only the patient's name and room number
- Writing the report after going home to save time
Correct answer: Using a written summary sheet to ensure no key points are missed during verbal handover
A written summary sheet used alongside verbal handover reduces the chance of omitting critical information and serves as a reference during the report.
Question 6: A nurse handover states: 'Mr. Reyes is post-op day 1 following right hip replacement, pain controlled at 3/10 with scheduled acetaminophen, mobilized twice with physiotherapy, no signs of infection at the incision site.' This handover is best described as:
- Too detailed and clinically irrelevant
- Vague and lacking specific assessment data
- Clear, concise, and clinically specific (Correct answer)
- Appropriate only for written documentation
Correct answer: Clear, concise, and clinically specific
This handover covers the surgical context, current pain status with management, activity level, and wound assessment in a concise and organized format.
CELBAN CELBAN Nurse Handover and Shift Communication 2
During bedside handover, the patient says, 'No one told me I was going for a scan tomorrow.' What is the nurse's best response?