Transfer of acutely ill patients

Abstract

Transfers are undertaken to improve the management of the patient and therefore play a crucial part within a patient’s journey. It is therefore essential that the nurse has a clear understanding of the potential impact of moving critically ill patients and the problems that may occur during transfer. The transfer of patients, especially between hospital sites, is not without risk and adverse events that could have been prevented are well documented within the literature. The potential risks entailed in transferring an acutely ill patient within and between hospitals are explored in this chapter. There is a focus on pre-transfer preparation, the clinical skills and equipment required during transfer, and the importance of good communication skills to ensure patient safety.