Evaluation Station
The evaluation process employs the SBAR handover technique, a verbal communication tool designed to enhance the exchange of information among healthcare professionals regarding a patient’s condition. SBAR, which stands for SITUATION, BACKGROUND, ASSESSMENT, and RECOMMENDATION, provides a structured framework to ensure comprehensive details about the patient are effectively communicated to the recipient.
Situation:
In this segment, it is crucial to:
Introduce oneself.
Provide the patient’s name, date of birth, and hospital number and unit/ward.
Specify the reason for admission.
Clearly articulate the purpose of the handover.
Background:
Under this category, the following information should be communicated:
Patient’s admission history e.g. date of admission, diagnosis and treatment.
Allergic status, for instance, any known allergies such as to Penicillin.
Medical history, including conditions like Hypertension since 2010.
Regular medications.
Pertinent details from the social history.
Identify any problems that may impact the patient’s daily activities.
Note the previous assessment findings.
Assessment:
This section involves sharing:
Latest/current observations.
Main nursing needs and interventions taken
Current status of the patient, such as a pain and pain score
Actions taken, like the administration of analgesics.
Any health education provided.
Highlight any areas of concern
Recommendation:
Under this heading, re-lay all information necessary for the recipient to act on, including:
Current scores such as NEWS 2/GCS/MUST/PHQ and the corresponding required interventions.
Anticipated problems and their planned course of action (e.g., if the patient requests pain medication, refer to the prescription; analgesic available as needed).
Suggestions for information, such as the patient will call for assistance when mobilizing.
Specific instructions, such as assessing the wound during subsequent assessment due to the risk of infection.
This structured SBAR handover, incorporating all the information gathered during the evaluation, planning, and implementation stages, is essential for an effective communication exchange. All relevant materials, including scenarios and paperwork used in the previous APIE stations, will be provided for reference during the Evaluation scenario. The allotted time for this station is currently set at 8 minutes, but it is advisable to confirm the latest timings with the coordinator before your OSCE.
NOTE:
It is essential to ensure that:
Your spoken communication is both clear and suitable.
When transferring patient care, a systematic and organized approach is adopted.
Failure in the evaluation stage may occur if:
The candidate neglects to recognize or document the primary care requirements of the patient.
The candidate openly exhibits judgmental behaviour regarding a patient’s personal attributes (e.g., sexuality) or their beliefs, cultural background, or lifestyle preferences.
The candidate does not effectively and accurately communicate with the healthcare professional while handing over patient care.
