What Is SBAR? Examples, Nursing Explainer, and FAQ
At the end of a busy shift with a thousand things going on, how can you be sure you don’t miss handing off an essential vital sign or assessment finding? SBAR is a formalized system for communicating essential information quickly and efficiently. Let’s go over some SBAR examples, nursing handoff tips, and frequently asked questions.
What Is SBAR?
SBAR is a communication system that helps nurses, physicians, NPs, nursing assistants, and other healthcare professionals share vital information. It stands for:
- Situation
- Background
- Assessment
- Recommendations
The SBAR system was originally developed by the United States Navy, and it measurably improves information sharing and care quality. It’s recommended by the Joint Commission and many other healthcare organizations as a tool to standardize communication.
Searching for potential SBAR examples? Nursing scenarios where you might use SBAR include:
- Emergencies: A patient’s status has drastically changed since the beginning of a shift, and they now need to be transferred to intensive care (ICU). The nurse calls the provider to update them using SBAR.
- Routine handoff: During a shift change in med-surg, the nurse uses SBAR to provide a concise and structured handoff to the incoming nurse.
- Status updates or changes: During discharge planning, the nurse notes that a patient who is soon to be discharged home cannot get to the bathroom by themselves. The nurse uses SBAR to report this to the unit case manager so the patient can be connected with resources and home health support.
- New provider: A patient is being referred to the wound care team for a worsening surgical site. Before the wound care nurse enters the patient’s room, they request a brief SBAR report from the shift nurse.
RN SBAR Template
Many units and hospital systems use templated handoff sheets to make the SBAR process easier. Feel free to use our SBAR nursing example template below, and if you’re seeking a more detailed template with recommendations, see our guide on nursing handoff reports.
| Category | Notes |
|---|---|
| Patient Information | Patient name, age: DOB: Emergency contact: Attending: |
| Situation | Primary problem on admission: Current condition: |
| Background | Medical history/past admissions: Recent changes: Allergies: |
| Assessment | Vital signs: Most recent labs: Clinical findings: |
| Recommendations | Tasks to be done within the next shift: Long-term actions: |
4 SBAR Examples
Nursing handoff looks different depending on whom you’re communicating with, the specialty you work in, and more. Let’s review an example of SBAR nursing reports for a few common scenarios where you might need to communicate quickly about a patient.
1. SBAR Examples: Nurse to Nurse End-of-Shift Report
Scenario: At the end of your shift on a med-surg unit, you’re handing off to the night shift nurse. Your patient, Mr. James, is a 72-year-old admitted for pneumonia.
SBAR Report:
- Situation: “Mr. James is a 72-year-old male admitted yesterday with pneumonia. He’s currently on 2L nasal cannula and remains hemodynamically stable.”
- Background: “He has a history of COPD, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. He was started on IV antibiotics and steroids upon admission. High finger stick checks are every 4 hours. He’s been on oxygen since arrival, and his SpO2 has ranged from 92–95%.”
- Assessment: “Lungs have scattered crackles bilaterally, and he has a productive cough. No fever, and his vital signs have been stable. He had some shortness of breath earlier but it improved with breathing treatments. His glucose has been elevated. I’ve given him three units most recently per his sliding scale.”
- Recommendation: “Continue monitoring his respiratory status, encourage incentive spirometry, and administer scheduled albuterol nebulizers. His next antibiotic dose and finger stick are due at 2200. Call the provider if his SpO2 drops below 90% or if he shows signs of worsening respiratory distress.”
2. SBAR Examples: Nursing Communication With Family
Scenario: As a pediatric nurse, you’re caring for a 4-year-old patient, Candice, who was admitted for dehydration due to a stomach virus. Her mother is calling for an update on her status.
SBAR Report:
- Situation: “Candice is doing better today. She has been tolerating fluids and is showing signs of improvement.”
- Background: “She had been vomiting frequently at home and wasn’t able to keep liquids down, so we admitted her and started IV fluids overnight.”
- Assessment: “She is more alert and has had no vomiting since early this morning. She’s started drinking small sips of water and apple juice without any issues. Her urine output has also improved.”
- Recommendation: “We will keep monitoring her hydration and encouraging more oral fluids. If Candice keeps fluids down and maintains good energy levels, the doctor may consider discharging her later today or tomorrow. Let me know if you have any concerns, and I can update the provider for you.”
3. SBAR Examples: Nursing Assessment Changes Communicated to a Provider
Scenario: You work in a cardiac unit. Your patient, Mrs. Carter, a 58-year-old female with a history of CHF, has new-onset shortness of breath and increasing lower extremity edema.
SBAR Report:
- Situation: “Mrs. Carter is a 58-year-old female with a history of CHF admitted for pneumonia. She is now experiencing increased shortness of breath and worsening bilateral leg swelling.”
- Background: “She was admitted three days ago and treated with IV antibiotics and diuretics. She has a history of hypertension and CHF with a reduced ejection fraction. Her last BNP was elevated at 900.”
- Assessment: “Her respiratory rate is 24, SpO2 is 89% on room air, and she has +3 pitting edema to bilateral lower extremities. Lungs have new crackles at the bases, and she reports feeling more fatigued.”
- Recommendation: “Can we get a STAT chest X-ray to assess for fluid overload? And would you like me to put her on a nasal cannula for oxygen delivery in the meantime?”
4. SBAR Examples: Nursing Interview Questions
Scenario: To test their communication skills, a nurse applying for a new job is asked to describe a time they used SBAR in their practice.
Sample Response:
- Situation: “I had a post-op patient who suddenly became hypotensive after a routine knee replacement.”
- Background: “He was a 65-year-old male with a history of hypertension and diabetes. He had been stable but started feeling dizzy, and his blood pressure dropped to 85/50.”
- Assessment: “I checked his vitals and found his heart rate was elevated, and he had cool, clammy skin. His surgical site was intact, but his urine output had decreased.”
- Recommendation: “I called the provider and suggested a fluid bolus and additional monitoring. The provider ordered a rapid response, and we identified internal bleeding as the cause. My report helped us move quickly to care for the patient.”
SBAR and Nursing Report FAQ
What is a failed SBAR nursing example?
A failed SBAR occurs when communication is unclear, incomplete, or disorganized, leading to misunderstandings, delayed care, or potential patient harm. Here’s a failed SBAR example:
Nursing student Annie calls the provider about a patient who is experiencing new-onset confusion:
- Situation: “Hi, I’m calling about Mr. Jones in Room 204. He’s just not acting right.” This is vague terminology. A better option would be to say that Mr. Jones has new-onset confusion that started in the last hour.
- Background: “He’s been here a few days with pneumonia, and he’s been on antibiotics.” Ideally, the nurse could be more specific about his regimen and length of stay.
- Assessment: “He seems off, kind of out of it. His vitals look okay, I think.” This assessment lacks objective data. For example, what is his degree of orientation? Is he pulling at tubes and lines? The nurse should also communicate his exact vital signs if possible.
- Recommendation: “I don’t know, I just wanted to let you know.” This doesn’t provide a clear next step for the provider. Does the nurse want the provider to come see the patient? What are the next steps for the team?
How do I write a good SBAR report?
Focus on being clear, concise, and structured. State the reason for communication in one or two sentences, and provide only relevant patient history or details leading to the current situation. Summarize the patient’s main or current problem, and highlight one or two recommendations. Looking for more tips on being prepared for handoff? Follow our guide on preparing a shift change report.
I-PASS vs. SBAR: What’s the difference?
I-PASS is another nursing handoff mnemonic that is designed to streamline the communication process from shift to shift. It follows a different flow compared to SBAR. Here’s what it stands for:
- Illness severity
- Patient summary
- Action list
- Situation awareness
- Synthesis by receiver
Find Your Own SBAR Examples
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