A nurse is adopting the I-PASS structured handoff tool for end-of-shift report. Which elements should be included in an effective I-PASS handoff? Select all that apply.
Select All That Apply
Choose your responses, then check the answer.
Explanation
I-PASS = Illness severity, Patient summary, Action list, Situation awareness/contingency planning, Synthesis by receiver. Choice 5 (personal opinions) is unprofessional and outside structured handoff — handoffs convey clinical facts, not unverified judgments about patients/families. The closing synthesis is what makes I-PASS evidence-based: studies show a 30% reduction in preventable adverse events when receivers actively read back and synthesize.
I-PASS was developed at Boston Children's and validated in a multi-center trial showing 23-30% reduction in medical errors and adverse events. The most under-used component is "Synthesis by Receiver" — the receiver summarizes back, which catches misunderstandings before they harm patients.
The medical-surgical unit has adopted I-PASS as a structured handoff tool to reduce omitted information and adverse events at shift change. The nurse is preparing the first I-PASS report for the oncoming nurse.