Publication Date
Spring 4-22-2026
College
Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing
Department
Nursing, School of
Student Level
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
Linda Wofford
Presentation Type
Poster
Summary
“Health is Where the Huddle Is”
Huddles are an evidence-based strategy to facilitate a culture of safety within nursing teams. A review of 158 huddle studies found that 44.3% reported improved clinical outcomes and 24.3% showed fewer medical errors when huddles were implemented (Pimentel et al., 2021). Currently, a local hospital’s 13-bed ICU lacks an effective system for nursing staff to huddle due to staffing constraints and the absence of monitor technicians, creating safety concerns when nurses leave monitors unattended. This project aims to implement an effective, nurse-led shift huddle that maintains continuous patient monitoring while also strengthening patient safety and nurse communication. Huddles will occur at 0700 and 1900 with the oncoming charge nurse monitoring patients, while the current charge nurse leads the huddle. These huddles will take 5-7 minutes, utilize standardized flowsheets, and facilitate a guided discussion of patient safety risks including fall risks, restraints, lines, and drips. Participation will be monitored through a buddy system to track engagement and consistency across shifts. Monthly recognition during the huddle will highlight individuals demonstrating consistent engagement through an existing reward system to reinforce participation. Outcomes will be measured using pre- and post-implementation surveys that measure perceived nurse communication, teamwork, and safety climate, comparing patient safety indicators before and after implementation. Within three months of implementation, the project aims to achieve >90% staff participation and measurable improvement in communication and safety metrics. This low cost, sustainable intervention leverages existing nursing workflows to foster shared accountability and enhance patient safety in resource-limited ICU settings.
References
Pimentel, C. B., Snow, A. L., Carnes, S. L., Shah, N. R., Loup, J. R., Vallejo-Luces, T. M.,
Madrigal, C., & Hartmann, C. W. (2021). Huddles and their effectiveness at the
frontlines of clinical care: A scoping review. Journal of General Internal Medicine,
36(9), 2772–2783. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-06632-9
Recommended Citation
Anthony, Lyndsey; Komistek, Anna E.; Pritchett, Philip C.; and Swanson, Emma K., "Health is Where the Huddle is" (2026). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 649.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/649
