Implementation of the SBAR communication technique in a tertiary center

Nurses, physicians, and other health care providers are frequently in situations requiring accurate and timely communication, particularly in high-stress areas such as the emergency department, ICU, and operating room.(1) Problems arise when messages are not clearly delivered by the sender or are misunderstood by the recipient. Variations in communication styles between physicians and nurses can also contribute to a breakdown in effective communication, which can lead to adverse outcomes for patients.(2) Nurses and physicians are trained to communicate in very different ways. Nurses are taught to report in narrative form, providing as many details as possible about the patient or situation, while physicians learn to communicate using an abbreviated headline format, focusing on key information. When one technique is utilized to deliver information rather than the other, pertinent points may be lost in translation.