In response to "Changing Handoffs: The Shift is On" by Margaret Costello in the October issue, I feel the urge to express how this article related to my current experience with shift handoffs. Handoff communication has been performed throughout all generations of nursing practice, but not always in a meaningful or useful sense for patient care or safety. Since the release of The Joint Commission standard concerning handing off care, my current organization has struggled with the change process around making the standard everyday practice. Our nurses felt they were performing handoff, but in reality the information being exchanged wasn't beneficial to providing consistent, uninterrupted patient care. This article was compelling as well as enlightening to how change theories can be utilized when implementing new processes within an organization.

The author clearly illustrated the meaningful use of change theories by providing case study overviews relating to changing handoffs. It was evident in the article that the hospital piloting and implementing the change had great success not only with patient care but also with staff satisfaction. I personally feel that The Joint Commission handoff standard has been one of the many challenges for hospitals nationwide, but with successful implementation strategies such as the one demonstrated in this article, hospitals are bound for success. I plan to use Lewin's change models as a strategy in some of my workflow and process endeavors.

I'm currently a nursing informatics analyst, working toward earning my BSN in the very near future. Articles such as this one are instrumental in my day-to-day duties and involvement in nursing process changes. In today's society of ever-changing technologies, nursing informaticists will be the leaders in providing and implementing process changes such as handoff communications. I would like to thank the editors, authors, and staff of -Nursing Management for distributing meaningful -information to your readers.