The visibility of hygiene self-care in nurse-to-nurse shift change reports.

This study aimed to understand the visibility of hygiene care related to inpatients with compromised self-care through the nurse-to-nurse shift change report. A qualitative approach was used and data were collected through observation and semi-structured interviews. A total of 33 nurses from medical and surgical units were observed and eight of them were interviewed. The results indicate that the nurse-to-nurse shift change report is a cyclically recreated practice that results in group coherence in updating information and in the continuity of care, and keeps nurses united. Hygiene care activities are present in the shift change reports; they are frequent in the shift change from morning to afternoon and less frequent in the remaining. Information concerning these activities helps to determine the type of aid necessary to the continuity of hygiene and of many other care activities and the rhythm of the following shifts.