SBAR In Nursing

Nursing is a caring profession that works perfectly and effectively with the collaborations of other departments within the healthcare systems. For example, physicians, dietitians, respiratory therapists, PTs, OTs, social work, EMT and many more play an essential role in ensuring that health services are delivered to patients. It is only through effective communication that health professionals especially nurses can work efficiently at their workstations to deliver a safe and effective care to their patients. Interprofesional relationships are usually the very key to the success of patient care. Nurses can employ a variety of communicating strategies in a bid to try and promote inter-professional collaboration for the benefit of their patients.
It is evident that most individuals build trust when information is passed to them on a one on one basis other that through other means of communication (Prasad & George, 2014).
Another method that nurses can employ so as to boost interprofessional collaboration is the use of SBAR. SBAR is a written tool often used to organize thoughts for an oral communication session. SBAR typically stands for situation, background, assessment, and recommendation (Hood, 2014). This can be used by nurses prior to phoning physicians or other professionals regarding a change in patient status.Moreover, the use of SBAR promotes quality and patient safety, primarily because it helps individuals communicate with each other with a shared set of expectations in a clear, complete, concise and structured format; improving communication efficiency and accuracy.SBAR also requires nurses to speak frankly and openly with others, regardless of their position in the organization. The use of handout or pamphlets is an important form of communication that helps professionals from various departments within an organization to interact in an efficient manner (Park,