Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Setup and Execution Of the Blindfolded Code Training Exercise
Published on: March 29, 2019
Teaching Situational Awareness in Clinical Settings Using the GREAT Mnemonic
1About the Author Emily C. Evans, PhD, RN, is an assistant professor, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, Virginia. The author acknowledges Ann McQueen Blair and Donna Binding for their contributions as lab instructors and colleagues in the development of this teaching tool. For more information, contact Dr. Evans at ece5c@virginia.edu .
Abstract:
Nursing students preparing for the clinical setting have many assessment skills to learn. Situational awareness, or the ability to quickly assess a patient care situation for safety and immediate need, is one of the first assessment skills nurses use, but its development is often overlooked or assumed. The GREAT mnemonic was developed as an easy and straightforward way to help students remember some of the most critical elements of patient safety and quality assessment in the initial moments of any patient encounter.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Mnemonic Devices
Acronyms
Acronyms are created by using the initial letters of a series of words to form a new word or phrase. This approach condenses complex information into a single, memorable entity. For example,...
SBAR I: Understanding the Concept
Standardized methods of communication have been developed to ensure that information is...
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching I: Assessment and Diagnosis
It is critical to determine the patient's learning needs during the assessment. Determination of learning needs compounds data...
SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

