Enhancing Transfer of Accountability in Burn ICU Nursing: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Abstract

In the burn intensive care unit (ICU), effective nurse handovers are critical to patient safety. Communication gaps during the transfer of accountability (TOA) contribute to preventable safety incidents. We designed a quality improvement (QI) initiative to standardize TOA and improve safety culture. A baseline safety culture survey of 31 burn ICU nurses and a three-month review of incident reports (mean: 18/month) identified handover-related communication failures, including omitted treatments, delayed wound care, and missed monitoring responsibilities. We co-developed a structured, burn-specific TOA tool with frontline nurses and introduced it through targeted education. The intervention was implemented over eight weekly Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. Outcomes included incident rates, nurse-reported safety culture, and process adherence. Post-intervention, safety incidents decreased by 50% (from 18 to 9/month), and TOA-related safety culture scores improved by 20%, achieving both SMART objectives. Tool adherence exceeded 90% by the final cycle. Nurses reported improved clarity, reduced cognitive load, and enhanced interprofessional communication. No adverse workflow impacts were observed. A co-designed TOA tool, integrated with education and iterative PDSA refinement, significantly improved handover safety and reduced incidents in the burn ICU. This initiative provides a practical, scalable model for enhancing communication and safety culture in high-risk clinical settings.