How to give a clear and confident clinical handover

Tell Clare what you think here!Do you freeze up when you need to give a clinical handover, or find yourself jumping back and forth and fumbling your words? Discover how to use the gold-standard ISBAR framework to deliver logical, concise, and highly effective handovers to nurses, supervisors, and multidisciplinary teams.Episode Summary: In this episode of the How to Be a Better OT podcast, host Clare Batkin tackles a critical communication skill that is guaranteed to pop up in every single clinical caseload: the clinical handover. Clare demystifies the jargon and introduces the widely respected ISBAR framework. She shares practical, real-world examples, ranging from a busy hospital ward shower update to an OT supervision session, and breaks down the five most common communication roadblocks that students and new grads face, offering targeted, actionable strategies to overcome them. Key Takeaways:Why Handover Matters: Learn how structured clinical handovers ensure continuity of care, protect patient safety, drive team collaboration, and clearly establish clinical accountability.The ISBAR Framework Decoded: A step-by-step walkthrough of the Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation framework.Real-Life OT Examples: Hear exactly how ISBAR sounds in practice, with a ward handover for Mrs. Jones and a community OT supervision scenario for Mrs. Williams.Overcoming 5 Common Roadblocks: Practical communication strategies for OTs who struggle with medical jargon, perfectionism, introvert shyness, speaking in a random order, or being too long-winded. Links & Resources Mentioned:Freebie download: Join over 3,300 clinicians and download the Clinical Handover Template and Cheat Sheet in the Free Learning Library.Interactive Practice: Join the Connector Membership to access monthly "practice your skill sessions" where you can role-play clinical handovers in a safe, supportive space.1:1 Support: Book a private clinical supervision session directly with Clare to help navigate your unique placement or workplace communication challenges: [Insert Link Here]. If you found this guide to clinical handovers helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow OT! Be sure to tune in to the next episode when we will be shifting our focus to another foundational OT skill: how to complete a self-care assessment.Want to continue learning with Clare? Here are your options:Check out my FREE Learning Library full of resources and coursesSign-up for one-on-one or group training and supportBook a time for a chat to see how I can helpSign-up for a Your OT Tutor membershipFollow me on social media – vist my Linktree for the links you need!