SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) is a standardized communication technique used to facilitate clear and effective communication among healthcare providers. Here’s an example of how SBAR can be used by a nurse to communicate with a physician about a patient’s changing condition:
### Scenario:
A nurse is concerned about a patient who is experiencing increasing shortness of breath and a drop in oxygen saturation.
### SBAR Communication:
**S (Situation):**
– **Nurse:** “Hello Dr. Smith, this is Nurse Johnson from the Medical-Surgical Unit. I’m calling about Mr. John Doe in room 204. I’m concerned about his increasing shortness of breath and his current oxygen saturation levels.”
**B (Background):**
– **Nurse:** “Mr. Doe is a 68-year-old male admitted three days ago with pneumonia. He has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure. He was initially on room air with an oxygen saturation of 94%, but over the past few hours, his condition has worsened.”
**A (Assessment):**
– **Nurse:** “Currently, his oxygen saturation has dropped to 86% on 2 liters of oxygen via nasal cannula. He is using accessory muscles to breathe and appears very anxious. His respiratory rate is 28 breaths per minute, and his blood pressure is 150/90 mmHg.”
**R (Recommendation):**
– **Nurse:** “I recommend that we consider increasing his oxygen delivery and possibly order an arterial blood gas (ABG) to assess his respiratory status more thoroughly. Additionally, it might be prudent to review his current medications and consider any necessary adjustments. Would you like to come and evaluate him, or should I initiate these changes immediately?”
### Expected Response:
**Physician:**
– “Thank you for the update, Nurse Johnson. Please increase his oxygen to 4 liters per minute and obtain an ABG. I will be there in 10 minutes to assess him personally. In the meantime, keep monitoring his vital signs closely and notify me of any further changes.”
### Breakdown of SBAR:
1. **Situation:** Clearly stating the immediate concern and identifying oneself and the patient.
2. **Background:** Providing relevant medical history and context for the current situation.
3. **Assessment:** Offering a concise summary of the current clinical findings.
4. **Recommendation:** Suggesting a course of action or asking for specific instructions.
By using SBAR, the nurse ensures that the communication is structured, relevant, and efficient, helping the physician quickly understand the situation and make informed decisions about the patient’s care.
Demonstrate use of a standardized communication technique (e.g., SBAR) to communicate with other nurses and other health care providers.
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