SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)

Definition

SBAR is a structured communication framework widely used in healthcare for concise, organized, and accurate handoff reports, provider notifications, and interdisciplinary communication.

Components

• S - Situation: State your name, unit, patient name, and the immediate concern. 'This is the nurse on 4-West. I'm calling about Mr. Smith who has developed chest pain.'
• B - Background: Provide relevant history: diagnosis, admission reason, recent events, pertinent labs, medications.
• A - Assessment: Share current vital signs, physical findings, and your clinical impression. 'BP 90/60, HR 118, SpO2 92%. I'm concerned he may be having an MI.'
• R - Recommendation: State clearly what you need. 'I recommend a 12-lead ECG, troponin, and provider evaluation now.'

Clinical Uses

• Nurse-to-provider phone reports
• Shift-to-shift handoff
• Transfers between units
• Interdisciplinary rounds
• Rapid response calls

Nursing Considerations

Use SBAR for every escalation. It reduces communication errors, which are a leading cause of sentinel events. The Joint Commission endorses structured handoff tools.

NCLEX Relevance

SBAR appears in Management of Care and Safety questions. Expect scenarios where proper communication prevents harm.