Purpose The aim was to examine the handover process at the post-anaesthesia care unit, how much the receiver remembers and what factors influence memory.

Design An observational study with a descriptive and correlational design.

Methods Seventy-three handovers were investigated, and data were collected using observation, audio-tape recordings of the handovers and the patient´s anaesthetic record.

Finding Interruptions occurred at 56 (77%) handovers and the sender expressed unclear information at 51 (70%) handovers. The mean of the verbally given information remembered by the receivers was 47%; the items mostly likely not to be remembered were the drugs used during anaesthesia. A linear generalized estimating equation was used and identified variables that were significantly associated with in receivers´ retention of information were structure and handover duration.

Conclusion Lack of structure and long duration of the verbal handover decrease how much the receiver will remember.