Shift handover

Imagine you're about to start your shift. Maybe the early shift, maybe the late shift. Here, multiple teams take care of the same residents every day. And it's in this exact moment, when one shift leaves and the next takes over, that determines whether our day will run smoothly or if important information gets lost. This moment is called handover. It's not a quick chat in passing. It's one of the most important parts of our workday. Let's look at how a handover ideally works here. Before the outgoing shift even starts the handover discussion, they first sort out what's truly relevant.

Not everything that happened during the shift needs to be passed on. But everything that affects the next colleague must be out of their head and into the handover. Changes in a resident's condition. Noteworthy observations. New orders. Appointments. Conversations with relatives. And, of course, anything that was planned but couldn't be completed. The incoming shift, in turn, doesn't just passively join the conversation, but actively participates. They listen, they ask questions, they follow up if something is unclear. Because every piece of information that isn't conveyed during the handover will be missing somewhere later.

With medication, during a dressing change, in a conversation with the family. We deliberately structure the handover into three levels. The first level is about the general overview. How was the shift as a whole? Were there any special incidents on the ward? Staffing situation? Open tasks? Urgent topics? On the second level, we go through the residents one by one. A simple rule applies here. Changes come first. Those who were stable are mentioned only briefly. Anyone who showed abnormalities is discussed in more detail.

What was different and what does the next shift need to look out for? We don't read out everything that's already documented. The handover only highlights what the next shift needs to actively keep an eye on. On the third level, we talk about the team. Who is taking over which area today? Who is the contact person for which question? Where do we need mutual support? What's important is, a good handover thrives on structure, not length. If everyone knows when it's their turn, what belongs in it and what doesn't, then 15 to 20 minutes are often enough for an entire residential group.

And just as important, the handover is a protected space. No phone calls, no interruptions, no questions from outside. In these minutes, our attention belongs exclusively to the residents and our colleagues. When we consistently follow this procedure, something valuable happens. Information doesn't get lost. Mistakes become less frequent. And everyone starting their shift knows exactly what to expect and can focus on what really matters here. The people entrusted to our care.