Quantitative descriptive-exploratory research, aiming to identify the factors related to patient safety concerning the communication on the shift change process of nursing teams. The research was conducted between April and May 2012 with 70 nursing team professionals from three Neonatal Intensive Care Units, using a validated tool about the shift change. For data analysis, Chi-Square and Student's t-tests were used. The results showed that the factors that could endanger patient safety during the shift change were delays, early departures, nursing procedures/care and side talk. The nurses had better perception of these factors when compared with nursing assistants. Professionals with shorter training reported more information related to "patients' clinical conditions", "drugs/medicines" and "nursing care/procedures". Therefore, there are pictures for safe communication, even with the incipient knowledge about patient safety and communication on shift reports, being necessary trainings and specific protocols.
Patient safety; Communication; Nursing, team; Intensive care units, neonatal