Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Emergency Department

Baytown, Texas

A project to refine the nursing handoff process at the Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital ED stands out as an example of how shared governance, collaborative decision-making, and nurse autonomy can lead to important changes in nursing practice. The team targeted the reduction of patient transition time from “bed ready” to “bed occupied,” thus setting a new standard in nurse-driven operational efficiency. The implementation of the Kaizen technique, a continuous improvement strategy for system projects, was key to constructing standardized work instructions, a transport decision algorithm, and a redesigned SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) hand-off process for nurses.

Another project the ED implemented was the creation of a “Zen Den” by converting a storage closet into a room supplied with a heating pad, aromatherapies, calming music, a massage chair, fidget toys, and art supplies with the purpose of helping reduce staff’s stress levels. Staff members — including clinical nurses, technicians, providers, and phlebotomists — were encouraged to spend a few moments in the room during times of stress and over-stimulation. Following use of the Zen Den, the average stress score of staff decreased from 10 to 2, demonstrating a positive impact on all staff members.