SBAR Template Chart

• Your name and clinical location
• Patient name, age, and room number
• The immediate concern — 1 to 2 sentences
• When the change occurred

"Dr. Lee, this is Nurse Patel on 5 North. I am calling about Mrs. Jackson in Room 502, a 71-year-old patient admitted for COPD exacerbation. She has developed sudden worsening respiratory distress in the last 20 minutes."

• Admitting diagnosis and reason for hospitalization
• Relevant past medical history
• Current medications relevant to the concern
• Most recent baseline vital signs and labs
• Code status and allergies if relevant

"She was admitted 2 days ago for COPD exacerbation. PMH includes COPD, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. She is on albuterol Q4H nebs, prednisone 40 mg PO, and metformin. Baseline O2 sat was 94% on 2L NC this morning. No known drug allergies."

• Current vital signs
• Current objective assessment findings
• The nurse's clinical impression of what may be occurring
• Change from baseline and level of urgency

"Current vital signs: BP 158/94, HR 108, RR 32, Temp 99.8°F, O2 sat 87% on 4L NC. She is using accessory muscles, breath sounds diminished bilaterally, and she is extremely anxious. I am concerned this may be an acute COPD exacerbation with possible pneumonia given the low-grade fever."

• The specific action or order being requested
• Interventions already initiated
• If unsure what is needed: "What would you like me to do?"
• Confirm understanding of orders and read back telephone orders

"I have increased her oxygen to 6L via nasal cannula and obtained IV access. I would like you to come evaluate her and consider ordering a stat CXR, arterial blood gas, and a change in her nebulizer frequency. Should I also draw blood cultures given the fever?"