Healthcare Acronyms

Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation

A system used to create a structured and standardized communication format (typically used between two healthcare workers). It is particularly useful for reporting changes in a patient's status and/or deterioration between healthcare services or shifts. The most common use of SBAR is during nursing shift changes. Other common uses of SBAR include changes of services.

• S: Situation - Briefly describe the situation
• B: Background - What is the background information that is pertinent to the situation?
• A: Assessment - Summarize the facts. What is going on?
• R: Recommendation/Reconfirm - What do you think the answer is? Your proposed solution. Reconfirm the plan