TeamSTEPPS® toolkit: SBAR - Journal entries

Characters Ashley and Abeeku in a discussion with a third character in a modern room with a mountain view, built-in shelves, and a TV displaying the word "Objective.

About this resource

At key moments in the Bodyswaps experience, useful notes are added to the learner’s virtual journal as a memory prompt that they can refer back to as and when required.

In VR, learners access their journal by looking at their avatar’s left hand. On other devices, it can be accessed via a ‘burger menu’ in the top left corner of the screen.

The full journal can be downloaded from our portal upon completion of the module, complete with relevant hyperlinks to online material, which cannot be accessed for practical reasons while in the VR simulation.

This document collates the journal entries in relation to the individual activities.

Introduction and self-reflection

The SBAR structure

SBAR - Assessment

Assessment
For this section, you’ll share a nursing assessment based on your clinical judgment.

Aim to include details about the patient’s current status that relate to the problem you’re addressing, such as updated symptoms, vital signs, a physical assessment, and fluid intake and output.

The assessment section helps to reveal your insights about the patient’s current issue – it’s based on what you think is necessary information to prompt the next steps for managing the patient’s care.

Assessment example
Malcolm reports right-sided flank pain that is 8 out of 10. He has blood-tinged urine and new-onset of chills. His temperature is now 39°C oral, and his heart rate has increased to 110 bpm. This seems indicative of a Systemic Inflammatory Response.

SBAR - Recommendation (or Request)

Recommendation (or Request)

Now that you’ve communicated the necessary context about the patient, conclude with a request or a statement explaining the next steps for the patient’s care.

What are you or the patient’s care team currently recommending or requesting for this patient?

This final statement acts as a call to action or collaboration. It equips the caregiver with what they need to know to help progress the patient’s care.

Recommendation or Request example

We need to administer normal saline intravenous fluid bolus to Malcolm, and then reassess his urine output. Can I order 500 ml of fluid bolus?

SBAR example

S – Jenna is a 15 year old patient who presented to the emergency department with suspected anaphylactic shock.

B – Shortly after eating almond butter, Jenna broke out in hives and vomited. 30 minutes later, she received a 0.5mg injection of epinephrine.

A – Her symptoms and vitals appear consistent with anaphylaxis. Blood pressure is 94 / 57, heart rate is 110, she reports difficulty breathing, and still has hives.

R – Can we send a serum tryptase test, to confirm if Jenna’s symptoms are consistent with an allergic reaction that indicates anaphylaxis?