By Abbas Saleh, RN | Mini Nurses
Published 13 October 2026
A useful nursing report helps the next person understand the problem and decide what needs to happen. A long description can still leave a colleague unsure why you called. This guide explains SBAR, gives original practice examples, and provides a short checklist for nursing students and nurses developing their communication skills.
What does SBAR mean?
SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation. The final part may also be framed as a request. AHRQ describes it as a structured way to communicate a concern, including situations needing prompt attention. Introduce yourself and identify the patient using your organisation’s required identifiers before sharing the relevant information. Source: AHRQ SBAR tool.
- Situation: State the immediate concern and why you are contacting this person.
- Background: Give the relevant context rather than reading the entire history.
- Assessment: Explain your observations and your concern. Separate measured findings from an uncertain explanation.
- Recommendation or request: Say what you need and how urgently. Confirm the response so the next action is clear.
A fictional example: asking for a care-plan review
The following exercise concerns discharge preparation, not an emergency. Patient A is an invented person and no real patient information is used.
S: “Hello, this is Nurse Amina on the medical ward. I am calling about Patient A, whose identifiers I have checked. Discharge is planned today, but the patient cannot explain the follow-up arrangements.”
B: “The current written plan mentions a clinic appointment, but the date is missing. The patient says a family member usually helps arrange transport.”
A: “The appointment details need clarification. The patient also needs the information explained in language they understand before leaving.”
R: “Please clarify the appointment date and who will confirm it with the patient before discharge. Can we agree who will update the written plan?”
Notice the sequence: a concrete problem, the facts behind it, the speaker’s assessment and a specific request. The caller does not claim that transport is impossible or that the patient is unwilling to attend. Those details have not been established. Good practice includes recognising what you still need to ask.
Make a vague message more useful
Consider this practice sentence: “The family is confused. Please talk to them.” It leaves several questions unanswered. Which information is unclear? Has the patient agreed to involve the family? Who should respond? What needs to be resolved?
A clearer version could be: “With the patient’s agreement, I spoke with the nominated caregiver. They understand that follow-up is needed but have two different appointment dates on their paperwork. Please confirm the correct date so we can update the instructions together.” This is an original communication exercise; it is not a prescribed clinical script.
SBAR and a full shift handover serve different needs
SBAR can organise a focused conversation. A complete transfer of care may need your facility’s more detailed handover tool. AHRQ also describes I-PASS, which includes illness severity, a patient summary, actions, contingency planning and the receiver’s summary. Use the system adopted by your team rather than replacing it simply because another acronym is familiar. Source: AHRQ communication overview.
A handover should establish who is taking responsibility and allow questions. Passing over a written note alone does not demonstrate that the recipient has understood it. Ask the receiving colleague to confirm the priority tasks and clarify any uncertainty before the exchange ends.
A short practice checklist
- Can the listener tell why I am speaking within the opening sentences?
- Have I included only background that helps explain this concern?
- Have I distinguished observations from assumptions?
- Is my request specific enough for someone to act on?
- Do we both know who will do what, and when?
- Have I protected confidential information and used an approved communication channel?
This checklist is a learning aid developed for Mini Nurses, not a validated assessment scale or replacement for local documentation requirements.
Practise with a partner
Write a fictional scenario in which a referral form lacks a contact number for the receiving team. Take two minutes to prepare your message. One person gives the report while the other writes down the concern and proposed next step. Compare the listener’s notes with what the speaker intended. If they differ, rewrite the unclear sentence and repeat the exercise.
On the next attempt, swap roles. The receiver should ask one useful clarification question rather than simply saying “okay.” Avoid using real names, hospital numbers, photographs or patient records in personal study notes or online study groups.
Remember the patient’s understanding
Communication at discharge involves the patient as well as the professionals. AHRQ’s PSNet review highlights the value of understandable instructions, coordinated follow-up and patient participation during transitions of care. Structured tools help organise communication, but they do not guarantee a safe transition by themselves. Read the PSNet review.
For your next practice report, focus on one improvement: finish with a clear request and confirm the agreed action. Fluency matters less than whether the other person understands the concern.
References and further reading
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Tool: SBAR.
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2023). Section 1: Overview of key concepts and tools.
- Gurses, A. P., Sousane, Z., & Mossburg, S. (2024). Communication during transitions of care. PSNet.
Educational content for nursing learners. Examples and exercises are fictional. Sources accessed 13 October 2026.