By North Essay Help Editorial Team ·
SBAR Examples for Nursing Students (Scripts for 6 Real Situations)
SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation. It was developed at Kaiser Permanente by Dr. Michael Leonard and colleagues, adapted from communication methods used in the U.S. Navy, and is now widely used in hospitals in Canada and the U.S.
The hard part isn't remembering the letters. It's knowing what to say in each one, keeping it under a minute, and ending with a clear request. Below are six word-for-word scripts, a template, and the mistakes that make a call less effective.
SBAR at a glance
| Part | What to say | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Situation | Who you are, where you are, which patient, and the problem in one sentence | 10 seconds |
| Background | Only the history that explains the problem: diagnosis, relevant meds, recent changes | 15 to 20 seconds |
| Assessment | Your current findings and what you think is happening | 15 to 20 seconds |
| Recommendation | Exactly what you want, and by when | 10 seconds |
Before you call
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement's SBAR guidance recommends you:
- Assess the patient yourself first.
- Review the chart, recent notes and the latest vital signs and labs.
- Have the chart, medication list, allergies, recent labs and code status in front of you.
- Know which physician or provider to call and how they prefer to be contacted.
Six SBAR scripts
All scenarios are fictional.
1. Calling a physician about a deteriorating patient
S: "Hi Dr. Chen, this is Maria, the nursing student working with RN Patel on 5 West. I'm calling about Mr. A. in bed 12. His breathing has worsened over the last two hours."
B: "He's 72, admitted yesterday with community-acquired pneumonia, on IV antibiotics and 2 L oxygen by nasal prongs. Last night his respiratory rate was 18 and saturation 96%."
A: "Now his respiratory rate is 28, saturation 89% on 2 L, heart rate 112, BP 104/62 and temperature 38.6°C. He's using accessory muscles and says he feels short of breath. His early warning score has gone from 1 to 7. I think he's deteriorating."
R: "I'd like you to see him now. Should I increase his oxygen and get a blood gas and chest X-ray while you come?"
Then use read-back: repeat any orders you receive and confirm them.
2. Shift handover (bedside)
S: "This is Ms. B., 58, day 2 after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. She's stable and comfortable."
B: "No significant history except hypertension, on her usual amlodipine. Allergic to penicillin."
A: "Vitals stable all shift. Pain 3/10 with oral analgesia, last dose at 1400. Tolerating a light diet. Walked twice in the hall. Port sites clean and dry. Voiding well."
R: "Plan is discharge tomorrow if she manages a full meal. She needs discharge teaching on wound care and her pain plan. Next analgesia is due from 1800 if needed."
3. Reporting a change to your preceptor
S: "Can I check something with you? Mrs. C. in room 4 seems more confused than this morning."
B: "She's 84, admitted with a urinary tract infection, oriented this morning."
A: "Now she doesn't know where she is and pulled at her IV. Temperature 38.2°C, other vitals stable. Her fluid intake has been low today. I'm worried about delirium."
R: "Could you assess her with me? I think we should let the physician know."
4. Abnormal lab result
S: "Hi, this is Sam, RN on 3 North, calling about Mr. D. in room 8 with a potassium of 6.1."
B: "He's 66 with chronic kidney disease, admitted for a heart failure exacerbation. He takes spironolactone and lisinopril."
A: "His heart rate is 58 and regular, BP 128/76. He reports some muscle weakness. No ECG done yet today."
R: "Would you like an ECG now, and should I hold his spironolactone? Do you want to order any treatment or a repeat potassium?"
5. Pain not controlled
S: "This is Lee, nursing student on 6 East, calling about Ms. E. in bed 3. Her pain is 8/10 despite her prescribed analgesia."
B: "She's day 1 after a total hip replacement. Her last dose of prescribed analgesia was at 1000, 2 hours ago."
A: "Pain is in the right hip, constant, worse with movement. She can't move to do her physiotherapy. Vitals are within normal range. No signs of bleeding at the dressing. Circulation and sensation in the leg are normal."
R: "Could you review her pain orders? She may need a different or additional analgesic so she can mobilize this afternoon."
6. Fall in hospital
S: "This is Alex, RN on 4 West. Mr. F. in room 15 had an unwitnessed fall at 0315."
B: "He's 79, admitted with heart failure, on apixaban and furosemide. He was assessed as high fall risk on admission."
A: "He was found on the floor beside the bed. He says he hit his head. GCS 15, pupils equal and reactive, vitals stable, small bruise on the forehead, moving all limbs, no hip pain."
R: "Because he's on an anticoagulant and hit his head, I'd like you to assess him and consider a CT head. I've started neurological observations every 15 minutes."
SBAR template
S: Situation
I am ___ (name, role) on ___ (unit). I am calling about ___ (patient, room). The problem is ___.
B: Background
Admitted on ___ with ___. Relevant history: ___. Relevant medications or treatments: ___. Allergies: ___.
A: Assessment
Vital signs: ___. Key findings: ___. Change since last assessment: ___. I think the problem is ___.
R: Recommendation
I would like you to ___ (see the patient, change an order, order a test) by ___ (time). Is there anything else you want me to do now?
ISBAR, SBARR and other versions
| Version | What's added | Where it's used |
|---|---|---|
| ISBAR | Identify (yourself, the patient) at the start | Common in Australia and in many Canadian and U.S. programs |
| SBARR | Response or Read-back at the end | Units that emphasize confirming orders |
| I-PASS | Illness severity, Patient summary, Action list, Situation awareness, Synthesis by receiver | Physician and some nursing handovers |
Use the version your program or placement teaches. The thinking is the same.
Mistakes that weaken an SBAR call
| Mistake | Example | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Too much background | Reading out the whole admission history | Only history that explains today's problem |
| Numbers without meaning | "RR 28, sat 89%." | Add the trend and your judgment: "up from 18; I think he's deteriorating." |
| No clear ask | "I just wanted to let you know." | State what you want: "I'd like you to see him now." |
| Apologizing first | "Sorry to bother you, it's probably nothing..." | Start with the Situation; your concern is legitimate. |
| Not having data ready | Putting the phone down to find the BP | Gather vitals, meds, labs and allergies before calling |
| No read-back | Hanging up after receiving orders | Repeat orders back and confirm them |
Frequently asked questions
What does SBAR stand for in nursing?
Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation. It's a structured way to communicate about a patient, especially when calling a physician or handing over care.
Who created SBAR?
Dr. Michael Leonard, Doug Bonacum and Suzanne Graham at Kaiser Permanente developed it for health care, adapting communication methods used in the U.S. Navy.
How long should an SBAR take?
About a minute for a phone call. Prepare before calling so you only say what matters.
What's the difference between SBAR and ISBAR?
ISBAR adds Identify at the start: you identify yourself and the patient before the Situation.
Can I use SBAR for written assignments?
Yes. Many nursing courses ask for an SBAR as a written or simulation assignment. Use the four headings and keep each section concise.
Should a nursing student give SBAR directly to a physician?
Follow your program and placement policy. Students often give SBAR to their preceptor or instructor first, then make the call together.
Related guides and tools
- SOAP note example for nursing students
- Gibbs reflective cycle nursing example
- How to write nursing interventions
- Nursing assignment help
Sources: Institute for Healthcare Improvement, SBAR Technique for Communication: A Situational Briefing Model (developed by M. Leonard, D. Bonacum and S. Graham, Kaiser Permanente). Scenarios are fictional and for learning only; follow your placement's escalation policies and prescriber's orders.
