Communication Tools
This structured framework stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation.
What is SBAR?
Calm, respectful, direct — these are signs of this kind of communication.
What is professional communication?
Laminated pocket reference cards, badge cards, or structured checklists that assist clinicians during high-stress or rare events are examples of this type of tool.
What is a cognitive aid?
Asking a patient or family member to explain in their own words what they understood about a care plan is known as this technique.
What is the Teach-Back method?
This beverage is the fuel of the modern office, often sparking intense debates over which roast is best.
What is coffee?
When someone else is talking, this skill means paying close attention and not interrupting.
What is active listening?
This culture exists when team members feel safe to take risks, ask questions, admit mistakes, and voice concerns without fear of negative consequences.
What is Psychological Safety?
Sending an email using this font style is universally interpreted as shouting.
What is ALL CAPS?
The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions.
What is Health Literacy?
If a family seems confused by medical language, the best approach is to do this.
What is use clear, simple language?
When reporting a SERS incident report, staff should include FACTUAL details like time, location, and what happened, rather than these.
What are opinions, emotions or blame?
The practice of asserting a safety concern at least twice to ensure it has been heard by the decision-maker is known as this rule.
What is the Two-Challenge Rule?
This safety habit means noticing what is happening around you, recognizing risks early, and acting before harm occurs.
What is situational awareness?
This classic Friday morning treat is usually brought in a flat cardboard box and disappears within ten minutes.
What are donuts?
Fatigue, stress, and interruptions can increase the chance of this.
What is human error?
Using this tone of voice helps others feel respected and heard.
What is a calm tone?
This household appliance is notorious for causing small fires or bad smells when office snacks are left unattended for too long.
What is the toaster (or toaster oven)?
If something feels unsafe, this is better than staying silent.
What is speaking up?
If you do not know the answer to a family’s question, the safest response is this.
I do not know the answer to this question, but I will find the right person that can help?
Stress, fear, or frustration can become this type of barrier to effective communication.
What is an emotional barrier?
According to workplace etiquette, this is the maximum number of days allowed to respond to a non-urgent internal email.
What is 24 hours (or one business day)?
The goal of conflict resolution is not to “win,” but to do this.
What is solve the problem?
This is the main goal of a strong safety culture.
What is keeping patients safe?
This collaborative process ensures patients, families, and clinicians weigh risks, benefits, and personal values together when choosing a care pathway.
What is Shared Decision-Making?
A brief, structured meeting held before a procedure or shift to establish roles, anticipate risks, and align expectations is known as this.
What is a huddle?