The art of reporting

Have you ever left after a shift and realized you forgot to pass on one other necessary piece of data to the subsequent nurse? It could be difficult to arrange and prioritize communications in a timely manner. A structured format and even using a template could also be helpful; nonetheless, experience definitely plays a task here as well. Like anything, reporting for an upcoming shift or during a patient handover takes practice. A typical acronym used to make sure an organized and accurate report is SBAR: Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation.

When I first heard about this method, it seemed too short. How can I take advantage of 4 letters/headings to speak all of my patient information after a 12-hour shift? As I learned somewhat more about SBAR, I spotted that it wasn’t that different from the reporting method I had been using for years.

Include admission diagnosis, history of current illness, events related to hospitalization (Tip: For patients with long hospitalizations, a timeline of events is useful). What is the patient’s current situation? Include a review of significant signs and events from the last 24 hours.

Past medical history, past surgical history, family history, psychosocial history.

Systems overview. My preferred approach to organization has at all times been neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, hematological/immune, and endocrine; skin; laboratory values ​​and diagnostic results; medicines; psychosocial problems.

Include anything that requires ongoing or further attention.

Which reporting method is best for you?