When using SBAR for a 6-month-old infant diagnosed with failure to thrive, which information should be included in the background component?

When using SBAR for a 6-month-old infant diagnosed with failure to thrive, which information should be included in the background component?

• A. The infant's current weight
• B. The infant was prescribed 32 ounces of a soy-based formula per day
• C. The infant should gain 0.2 kg each week
• D. The infant's birth weight

Answer: (A)

In a SBAR handoff, the Background should include information that directly informs the current issue. For a 6-month-old with failure to thrive, the most important data is the infant’s current weight because it shows the present growth status and helps gauge how severely nutrition is affected. This weight (often alongside recent weight trend) tells the clinician how the infant is doing now and what kind of intervention might be needed. Other details like a prescribed formula amount or a target weekly gain belong more to the plan or assessment, not the Background. Birth weight is historical context, but it doesn’t convey the immediate growth status as clearly as the current weight does. So, including the infant’s current weight best communicates the current problem to the person taking over care.

In a SBAR handoff, the Background should include information that directly informs the current issue. For a 6-month-old with failure to thrive, the most important data is the infant’s current weight because it shows the present growth status and helps gauge how severely nutrition is affected. This weight (often alongside recent weight trend) tells the clinician how the infant is doing now and what kind of intervention might be needed. Other details like a prescribed formula amount or a target weekly gain belong more to the plan or assessment, not the Background. Birth weight is historical context, but it doesn’t convey the immediate growth status as clearly as the current weight does. So, including the infant’s current weight best communicates the current problem to the person taking over care.