Which assessments should be included in the SBAR communication with the physician regarding the resident?

In the context of using the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) communication framework, including vital signs in the assessment portion is essential for several reasons. Vital signs provide crucial real-time data about a resident's physiological status, and they are often the first indicators of any change in health or potential complications. When communicating with a physician, presenting vital signs helps to establish the current condition of the resident succinctly and effectively.

When utilizing the SBAR format, the assessment section aims to supply the physician with pertinent findings that support the clinical situation being discussed. Vital signs, such as temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, and blood pressure, are fundamental indicators of a patient’s overall stability. If these values are abnormal, they could signal underlying issues that require immediate attention or intervention.

In contrast, while assessments such as pain level, lung sounds, and patient history are significant components of patient care, they may not be considered foundational data in the same way that vital signs are. Pain level is subjective and can vary from one individual to another, lung sounds require interpretation, and patient history, while important, provides context rather than immediate clinical status. These elements may complement the SBAR report but are not as critical as vital signs when quickly assessing and communicating the