What belongs in each SBAR section?
The sections separate what is happening, the relevant history, your clinical assessment and what you need next. AHRQ’s SBAR communication tool provides the framework. “Recommendation” is the standard R; a clear request can express that recommendation.
| Folder | Purpose | Original learning example |
|---|---|---|
| Situation | Current concern | I am calling about nausea that started this afternoon. |
| Background | History relevant to the concern | The client had abdominal surgery yesterday. |
| Assessment | Observations and your interpretation | The nausea needs further evaluation; include the assessment findings you actually have. |
| Recommendation / request | What should happen next and when | Please assess the client now. |
Why is filing notes a useful exercise?
Filing notes makes you decide what each detail contributes to the call. A surgery date belongs in the history; it is not the current concern. A request asks for an action; it is not an assessment finding.
The exercise is easier to follow when the folders are labeled and the current note stands apart. Read the note, choose its purpose and place it. Then read the assembled call in order to check whether it tells a usable story.
Can the same fact fit more than one section?
Some facts can fit more than one section depending on their purpose in the call. A current result might state the immediate concern, while a trend in that result might support the assessment.
A prepared-note practice task should make the intended role clear. In a real handover, the aim is clear communication, not winning an argument about a label. Do not move a clinically urgent fact out of view just to make the structure look tidy.
What is missing from a very short demonstration?
A short demonstration may teach the filing structure without supplying a full clinical assessment. “Needs further evaluation” is not a substitute for collecting and reporting relevant observations in practice.
When reviewing a complete case, include the information you have, separate observations from assumptions and make the requested action clear. Use a read-back or confirmation where the communication process requires it.
How can I put this into my next study session?
Open Handover builder to file prepared notes with labeled visual folders. Use the finished call to check the flow of information, then continue your broader communication practice. See NCLEX RN Exam Practice.
