SBAR

SBAR

Chloe DeFebo​ BSN, RN

University of Pittsburgh Graduate Student​

What is SBAR?

Communication Tool

• Improves knowledge on handoff

• Ensures pertinent clinical ​information

• Provides structure

• Improves patient safety​

• ​Fosters teamwork

​

SBAR

• Situation: description of patients current situation or problem

• Background: brief medical background

• Assessment: statements of your assessment

• Recommendation​: requested plan for action

Why do we use SBAR?

• Giving Report:

  • Bedside Shift Report - Nurse Knowledge Exchange

  • Verbal Report to other disciplines (MD, PT/OT, SLP, etc.)

• ​Set priorities

• Plan of Care

• Objective data

• Provide Structure

• Time for questions​

​Situation

​What is currently happening?

1. patient name

2. age

3. room number

4. patients current condition​

Background

​What is the patient's history? (pertinent to this situation)

• diagnosis

• past medical history (comorbidities)

• vitals (recent and trends)

• physical assessment

• SPECIFIC TO SITUATION​

Assessment

​What is the problem?

• abnormal VS

• pain

• changes in symptoms

• analysis of the problem...

  • the data you gathered to determine there was a problem​

Recommendations

​What needs done?

• changes in plan of care

  • ex: no longer appropriate for discharge

• concerns

  • ex: showing signs of altered LOC

• labs and/or diagnostics

  • ex: Stat CT for suspected pulmonary emboli

• physician

  • ex: patient needs seen by MD

• what will resolve the situation

  • need medication orders, seen by a specialist?

Open Ended

In what situations would you use SBAR communication?

Multiple Choice

SBAR provides...

• a framework for team members to effectively communicate information to one another

• communication tool for only nurse to nurse handoff

• a long, detailed statement of your concerns to the correct party

Poll

After this lecture, do you understand the importance of using the SBAR communication tool?

• YES

• NO