The process of clinical handover is paramount to ensure that patient information is communicated in a timely, relevant and structured manner.
It is highly important that clinical handover practices are sound, to avoid discrepancies that could lead to the patient experiencing adverse events. Nurses need to be aware of the standardised structure for clinical handover known as ISOBAR.
- Identify
- Situation
- Observations
- Background
- Agree to a plan
- Read back
The following resources will identify the legal requirements surrounding clinical handover and how you can conduct a comprehensive and structured handover of clinical information.
-
Correct Clinical Handover
This video is a training tool developed at Liverpool Hospital to show correct clinical handover.
South Western Sydney Local Health District is one of the largest health districts in New South Wales.
The District's vision is to provide a healthcare service that is patient focused, equitable and responsive to the changing and developing needs of the communities in south western Sydney.
SWSLHD covers seven Local Government Areas from Bankstown to Wingecarribee. -
In Safe Hands
In Safe Hands -- improving clinical handover in Australia using iSoBAR as the structured communication tool -
ISOBAR Clinical Handover
Copy (2) Click to edit -
Clinical Handover Instructional Video
-
ISBAR Patient Safety
Hi Everyone,
I hope you enjoy this animation about ISBAR particularly directed at junior health care professionals working in acute health care environments.
This animation was created as part of the STRIPE 3 project (Simulation TRaining for InterProfessional Education) at Western Health in 2014, in collaboration with Sketch Speak. This project was made possible with funding from the Commonwealth of Australia.
If you like it and want to use please let me know at janet.beer@wh.org.au -
ISBAR - Case Study 2
ISBAR: Identifying and Solving Barriers to Effective Handover in Inter-Hospital Transfer - Case Study 2. -
ISBAR - Case Study 3
ISBAR: Identifying and Solving Barriers to Effective Handover in Inter-Hospital Transfer - Case Study 3. -
ISBAR Video 1: Example of poor communication - unprepared
Poor communication is widely recognised as a major contributing factor to adverse events in healthcare. VMIA partnered with Southern Health to develop ISBAR: a simple, practical tool for guiding staff in how they structure and exchange information.
This video shows an example of poor communication, as the intern is unprepared with the required information. -
ISBAR Video 2: Example of poor communication - too detailed
Poor communication is widely recognised as a major contributing factor to adverse events in healthcare. VMIA partnered with Southern Health to develop ISBAR: a simple, practical tool for guiding staff in how they structure and exchange information.
This video shows an example of poor communication as the intern uses too much information which obscures the important details. -
ISBAR Video 3: Example of good communication using ISBAR
Poor communication is widely recognised as a major contributing factor to adverse events in healthcare. VMIA partnered with Southern Health to develop ISBAR: a simple, practical tool for guiding staff in how they structure and exchange information.
This video shows an example of good communication using the ISBAR tool.
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
The Commission is committed to improving handover communication across a range of healthcare settings.
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/clinical-communications/clinical-handover/
Government of Western Australia – Dept of Health
What is clinical handover?
https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Clinical-handover
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
iSoBAR for Inter-Hospital Transfers.
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/clinical-communications/clinical-handover/national-clinical-handover-initiative-pilot-program/isobar-for-inter-hospital-transfers/
SKILLSTAT
Emergency medical skills courses
https://www.skillstat.com/tools/ecg-simulator
Thomas, C. M., Bertram, E., & Johnson, D. (2009). The SBAR communication technique: Teaching nursing students professional communication skills. Nurse Educator, 34(4), 176-180. doi:10.1097/NNE.0b013e3181aaba54
Thomson, H., Tourangeau, A., Jeffs, L., & Puts, M. (2018). Factors affecting quality of nurse shift handover in the Emergency Department. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 74(4), 876-886. doi:10.1111/jan.13499
Kerr, D., McKay, K., Klim, S., Kelly, A.-M., & McCann, T. (2014). Attitudes of Emergency Department patients about handover at the bedside. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 23(11-12), 1685-1693. doi:10.1111/jocn.12308