Using an SBAR - keeping it real! Demonstrating how improving safe care delivery has been incorporated into a top-up degree programme.

Using a standard communication tool can enhance and provide focus, to ensure that communication is accurately recorded and understood (Marquis and Huston, 2009). The Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation (SBAR) approach is common place in healthcare situations today (Institute for Health Improvement, 2011), thus justifying the use of this contemporary way of communicating to structure this article. Patient safety, clinical effectiveness and person centred approaches to care, are top priorities in healthcare today.

How to use action learning sets to support nurses.

Action learning sets involve regular, action-focused peer-discussion groups that address workplace issues. From reviewing the literature and our own experience, we found that ALS builds trust, helps professional development and enables action on issues/problems. This approach represents a workable peer-group supervision format worth ctioconsidering in education and practice.