Leaving critical care: facilitating a smooth transition.

Patient transfers from one area to another occur frequently within the inpatient healthcare environment. During transfers, nurses pass on information about patients to one another in a variety of ways. This article discusses the types of patient transfers, the problems that can occur throughout the transfer process, and strategies to decrease the identified problems. The perspectives of both the nursing staff and patients/families illustrate concerns related to patient transfers. The most important aspect of the patient transfer is systematically communicating necessary information to the receiving nurse in such a way that patient safety is not compromised and continuity of care is enhanced.