SBAR: give a report that sounds like you know what you’re doing
The four-letter framework that turns a rambling, nervous handoff into a tight 30-second report — with real examples and a printable template you can keep in your badge holder.
What is SBAR?
SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation. It’s a communication tool the Navy borrowed to nuclear submarines and healthcare borrowed from the Navy — a fixed order for sharing critical information so nothing important gets buried.
Here’s why it matters on day one: when you call a provider at 3am about a patient who looks off, your brain is racing and theirs is half asleep. SBAR gives both of you a script. You’re not “bothering the doctor” — you’re handing them the exact information they need, in the order they expect it. It works the same way at shift change, during transfers, and in rapid responses.
What goes in each letter
Situation
Who you are, who the patient is, and what’s happening right now, in one or two sentences. “Hi Dr. Lee, this is Mara, RN on 4 West. I’m calling about Mr. Diaz in 412 — his blood pressure just dropped to 84/50.”
Background
The quick context that makes the situation make sense. Admitting diagnosis, relevant history, what’s been done so far. “He’s a 68-year-old admitted two days ago for pneumonia, on IV antibiotics, normally runs around 130 systolic.”
Assessment
What you think is going on. This is the part new nurses skip — don’t. “He’s mentating but pale and clammy. I’m worried he’s septic or volume down.” A guess is fine. Saying nothing isn’t.
Recommendation
What you want to happen. Be specific. “Can you come see him, or can I get an order for a fluid bolus and a repeat lactate?” Ask for the thing. The worst they say is no.
Two things that’ll make this click
Full SBAR examples
Word-for-word scripts for the calls you’ll actually make — chest pain, a fall, low urine output, a confused post-op. Steal them shamelessly.
Read the examples →Printable SBAR template
A blank fill-in-the-blank SBAR sheet for before you pick up the phone. Jot your bullets, sound calm, hang up looking like a pro.
Download the template →SBAR FAQs
What does SBAR stand for?
Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation. You’ll sometimes see “I-SBAR” (with Introduction/Identification added in front) or “SBAR-R” (with Read-back/Response at the end) — same idea, just spelled out a little more.
When do nurses use SBAR?
Any time you’re handing off critical information: calling a provider, giving shift report, transferring a patient to another unit, or escalating during a rapid response. Once it’s muscle memory, you’ll catch yourself using it to tell your charge nurse about lunch.
Is SBAR only for nurses?
No — it’s used across healthcare by techs, therapists, paramedics, and providers. It caught on in nursing first because we’re the ones making the 3am phone calls, but it’s a whole-team tool.