Nurses’ perceptions of team huddle in an Intensive Care Unit: An exploratory qualitative study

Introduction

Team huddles have been recognized as an effective tool to improve patient safety and communication in complex healthcare settings. However, their successful implementation requires understanding the perceptions of the healthcare team regarding their usefulness and feasibility.

Objective

To analyse the perceptions of nurses in an intensive care unit (ICU) regarding the huddle methodology, with the aim of generating recommendations that facilitate its future implementation.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in an Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital in Madrid, using focused interviews with 12 purposively selected nurses. An inductive thematic analysis was performed following Braun and Clarke’s framework.

Results

Four overarching themes emerged: improved work organization and team climate, optimization of patient care and safety through greater situational awareness and continuity of care, the need for clear protocols to guide huddle dynamics, and the influence of unit infrastructure on the location and effectiveness of team huddles.

Conclusion

Team huddles are perceived as a potentially beneficial strategy, but their successful implementation requires structured planning, clear protocols, staff training, and adaptation to the unit’s physical and organizational context.