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Nursing vocabulary · Ward Routines and Handover

Handover

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/ˈhændˌoʊvər/nounCore term

In nursing, handover means: The passing of information and responsibility for patients from one nurse or team to the next, usually at the change of shift.

In Turkish: nöbet devri, hasta teslimi, devir teslim

How it is used

Handover can happen at the nurses' station, in a side room or at the bedside. You give or receive handover. US nurses often say 'report' ('Have you had report?') or 'hand-off'. A good handover is short, structured and focuses on what the next nurse must do or watch for.

Example sentences

  1. Handover is at half past seven, so try to finish your notes before then.

  2. During handover she mentioned that the patient in bed 4 had a fall last night.

Common collocations

  • give handover
  • take handover
  • bedside handover
  • shift handover
  • verbal handover
  • shiftA fixed period of work, such as day, evening or night, after which another group of staff takes over.
  • SBARA structured way of passing on information about a patient: Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation.
  • nursing notesThe written or electronic record in which nurses describe a patient's condition, the care given and any changes or events during each shift.
  • charge nurseThe nurse who leads a ward or unit during a shift: organising staff, allocating patients and dealing with problems and emergencies.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Ward Routines and Handover

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.