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Nurse Shift Handover (SBAR)

A structured SBAR handover to reduce missed context between nursing shifts: situation, background, assessment, recommendation.

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healthcareshift-handoverpatient-care

Use at end-of-shift to hand over patient status and open tasks using the SBAR structure.

Form preview

Context

Unit

Text

Ward/unit (e.g., Med-Surg)

[not set]

Handover Date*

Date

📅 Select date

Patient (Identifier)*

Text

Use a non-sensitive identifier (e.g., room/bed or internal code)

[not set]

SBAR

Situation*

Text Area

What is happening right now?

Background

Text Area

Relevant history/context

Assessment*

Text Area

Clinical assessment and concerns

Recommendation*

Text Area

What should the next shift do/watch for?

Vitals Trend

Text

Stable? improving? worsening?

StableImprovingWorseningUnknown

Stable

Improving

Worsening

Unknown

Continuity

Open Tasks

List

Tasks to complete on next shift

Task	Priority	Due
+ Add	+ Add	+ Add

Escalation Needed

Toggle

Does this require escalation to physician/charge?

[not set]

EXAMPLE REPORTSample data — shows what you’ll get after recording

Example filled report

Context

Unit

Med-Surg

Handover Date

02/05/2026

Patient (Identifier)

Room 312 / Bed A

SBAR

Situation

Patient reports increased shortness of breath with exertion. O2 sat dropped to 91% on ambulation, recovers to 96% at rest.

Background

Admitted yesterday for pneumonia. On IV antibiotics. No known allergies documented in chart.

Assessment

Lung sounds diminished at bases, mild accessory muscle use on walking. Temp 37.8. Concern for fatigue; monitor closely.

Recommendation

Encourage rest, reassess ambulation tolerance, and consider notifying provider if sats remain <92% with minimal activity.

Vitals Trend

Stable

Continuity

Open Tasks

Task	Priority	Due
Recheck O2 saturation after breathing exercises	High	20:30
Document intake/output	Medium	End of shift

Escalation Needed

Yes