SHN2004 (Acute Care)
Nursing Handover and SBAR
Aims & Objectives
What is communication?
Recognise the importance of clear and effective handover
What are the barriers to effective handover
Communication tools
What is Communication
“Communication is the process by which information is exchanged between sender
and receiver”
How do we communicate in nursing?
o IT is now a major way of communicating especially following the recent
pandemic – it is part and parcel of the NHS Service not just in terms of advice
to patients but also remote meetings between staff
o Face to Face Communication remains important
As children nurses there is a need to be able to effectively
communicate with both adults and children – e.g. explaining a
situation to a parent and then explaining it to a child in a way that
they can both understand
Different people/ages have different levels of understanding and may
also have elements of cognitive impairment
o Written Communication
o We are responsible for what is said/not said; written/not written
o Best Communication Practice
Brief
And also precise
Clear
Timely
Handover
Handover, is the exchange between health professionals of information about a
patient.
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has defined clinical handover as a process
where there is:
o ‘the transfer of professional responsibility and accountability for some or all
aspects of care for a patient, or group of patients, to another person or
professional’ (NPSA, 2007)
Not just the passing of information – also the passing on of
responsibility – it is therefore an incredibly important part of the
nursing practice
1
, SHN2004 (Acute Care)
Various clauses throughout the NMC for nurses requirement and
responsibilities to be effective in their communication
What do you think are barriers to effective handover?
o Staff shortages
o Distraction
o Failure to record/pass on information
o Jargon (potential for misinterpretation)
o Interruptions
o Poor communication skills
o Letting personal circumstances affect your ability to convey information or
listen/concentrate on the information being provided
Even when concentrating you only take in approximately 50% of the
information being presented (unless that information is being
reinforced) – this is less when you are distracted
o Can lack structure – don’t follow a set pattern
Current handover practices are often criticised as being highly variable, unstructured
and error-prone
What types of handovers have you witnessed/participated in?
o Verbal
Most typical form
Given by ward sister/lead nurse
o Written
o Tape recorded
o Bedside
Importance of effective handover
o When a nurse hands over responsibility of care to another nurse there is an
opportunity for error if all the important medical information is not shared
thoroughly and efficiently.
o Failing to mention ‐ or grasp ‐ information may result in delays in treatment
or diagnosis for the patient, inappropriate treatment, or failure to provide
appropriate care.
o Consequently, an accurate handover of clinical information is essential to
ensure continuity of care and patients’ safety.
Ground rules for handover (Currie 2002)
o Confidential
o Uninterrupted
o Brief
But full of the relevant information
o Accurate
2
Nursing Handover and SBAR
Aims & Objectives
What is communication?
Recognise the importance of clear and effective handover
What are the barriers to effective handover
Communication tools
What is Communication
“Communication is the process by which information is exchanged between sender
and receiver”
How do we communicate in nursing?
o IT is now a major way of communicating especially following the recent
pandemic – it is part and parcel of the NHS Service not just in terms of advice
to patients but also remote meetings between staff
o Face to Face Communication remains important
As children nurses there is a need to be able to effectively
communicate with both adults and children – e.g. explaining a
situation to a parent and then explaining it to a child in a way that
they can both understand
Different people/ages have different levels of understanding and may
also have elements of cognitive impairment
o Written Communication
o We are responsible for what is said/not said; written/not written
o Best Communication Practice
Brief
And also precise
Clear
Timely
Handover
Handover, is the exchange between health professionals of information about a
patient.
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has defined clinical handover as a process
where there is:
o ‘the transfer of professional responsibility and accountability for some or all
aspects of care for a patient, or group of patients, to another person or
professional’ (NPSA, 2007)
Not just the passing of information – also the passing on of
responsibility – it is therefore an incredibly important part of the
nursing practice
1
, SHN2004 (Acute Care)
Various clauses throughout the NMC for nurses requirement and
responsibilities to be effective in their communication
What do you think are barriers to effective handover?
o Staff shortages
o Distraction
o Failure to record/pass on information
o Jargon (potential for misinterpretation)
o Interruptions
o Poor communication skills
o Letting personal circumstances affect your ability to convey information or
listen/concentrate on the information being provided
Even when concentrating you only take in approximately 50% of the
information being presented (unless that information is being
reinforced) – this is less when you are distracted
o Can lack structure – don’t follow a set pattern
Current handover practices are often criticised as being highly variable, unstructured
and error-prone
What types of handovers have you witnessed/participated in?
o Verbal
Most typical form
Given by ward sister/lead nurse
o Written
o Tape recorded
o Bedside
Importance of effective handover
o When a nurse hands over responsibility of care to another nurse there is an
opportunity for error if all the important medical information is not shared
thoroughly and efficiently.
o Failing to mention ‐ or grasp ‐ information may result in delays in treatment
or diagnosis for the patient, inappropriate treatment, or failure to provide
appropriate care.
o Consequently, an accurate handover of clinical information is essential to
ensure continuity of care and patients’ safety.
Ground rules for handover (Currie 2002)
o Confidential
o Uninterrupted
o Brief
But full of the relevant information
o Accurate
2
