Shift handover

SBAR handover builder

A clear handover is a safety intervention. SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) is the structure that stops the important detail getting lost at a shift change or an escalation call. Fill in the guided prompts and the tool assembles a clean note you can copy or print.

Use a bed number or local handover reference only. Do not enter a patient name, date of birth, hospital number, contact detail or any other direct identifier. This draft stays in the current tab and is erased on reload.

Who and whereYour name and role, ward or area, and the person you are handing over about. Avoid full identifiers on a shared device.SSituationThe immediate reason for the handover or call, in one or two lines.BBackgroundRelevant history: reason for admission, key diagnoses, current treatment.AAssessmentYour observations and what you think is going on: latest vitals, early warning score, trend.RRecommendationWhat you need or suggest, and by when.

Complete Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation before copying or printing.

Preview

SBAR handover


S - Situation: [not stated]
B - Background: [not stated]
A - Assessment: [not stated]
R - Recommendation: [not stated]

SBAR is a communication scaffold, not a clinical record. Nothing is sent anywhere and the draft is not saved after this tab reloads. Clear it when you are done, and always follow your institution's handover and documentation policy.

Sources

SBAR communication technique Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2023The SBAR framework: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.
Handover and communication in nursing Royal College of Nursing, 2023

Last reviewed: 2026-07-17