SAFETY IN THE INTERHOSPITAL TRANSPORT OF CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS: AN ANALYSIS OF NURSING PRACTICE AND A PROPOSAL FOR AN EVIDENCE-BASED CHECKLIST

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.01596726040612

• Palavras-chave: Interhospital transport. Patient safety. Urgent and emergency nursing. Safety checklist. Critically ill patient.

• Keywords: Interhospital transport. Patient safety. Urgent and emergency nursing. Safety checklist. Critically ill patient.

• Abstract:

  This article addresses the risks inherent in the interhospital transport of critically ill patients and proposes a safety checklist developed by nursing staff as a strategy to improve this process. It is recognized that, although essential for continuity of care, transport between hospital units exposes patients to potentially preventable adverse events, such as hemodynamic instability, hypoxemia, and communication failures among teams. In light of this, the study draws on clinical experience and national guidelines on patient safety to develop a practical tool centered on the nurse’s role. The proposed checklist is organized around four key areas: preliminary clinical assessment, verification of equipment and medications, effective communication with the receiving unit, and secure documentation of the process. This initiative aims to strengthen the leading role of nursing, promote standardized practices, and reduce gaps in care during transport. It is concluded that simple, collectively developed, and evidence-based protocols are powerful tools for transforming standard procedures into safe, humane, and effective care, even in highly complex settings.