Date
10-16-2025
Department
School of Nursing
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Chair
Debra Maddox
Keywords
SBAR, communication, SBAR and communication, healthcare provider, nurses, patient safety, “assisted living”, “SBAR Tools”, and SBAR in assisted living facilities/nursing homes
Disciplines
Nursing
Recommended Citation
Shirima, Caroline, "Implementation of the SBAR Tool Among Nurses and Providers in an Assisted Living Facility to Increase Patient Safety" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7536.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7536
Abstract
After-hours communication is common for patient management, as patients often need support or answers after hours, and miscommunication can lead to frustration or even compromised care. The Picot question that guided this quality improvement project was: For nursing staff and healthcare providers in an assisted living facility, does implementing an educational program on the use of an SBAR tool during phone calls, compared to previous practice, increase staff knowledge and utilization of the tool to increase patient safety over a 12-week period? The purpose of this scholarly project is to implement the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) tool within a suburban assisted living facility in Bowie, Maryland, with the intent of strengthening reports between nurses and providers when reporting changes in residents’ condition. The project was guided by evidence demonstrating standardized communication tools, such as SBAR, enhanced information accuracy, reduced unnecessary hospital transfer, and increased patient safety. A review of 12 articles published within the past five years was conducted to explore the SBAR communication as a strategy for improving patient safety and outcomes, managing healthcare costs, and reducing hospitalizations. Findings demonstrated a substantial improvement in communication between nurses and providers following the implementation of the SBAR tool and staff’s increased knowledge of SBAR. The implication of the SBAR communication tool in the health care system fosters collaboration effectively with the goal of patient safety.
