A residency program finds medication omissions after night-to-day handoffs, with inconsistent contingency plans. What improvement is best?

Question

Accepted Answer

Use a structured handoff with medication status, pending tasks, and contingencies

Answer

Assign follow-up tasks to outgoing resident, charge nurse, and covering clinician

Answer

Use a brief handoff with medication status, pending tasks, and deferred contingencies

Answer

Defer medication decisions, ask nurses to monitor changes, and leave contingencies undocumented

Answer

Use electronic records, written sign-out, and no direct clinician communication

Handoff safety — USMLE Step 3 MCQ