SBAR
Medical abbreviation · Medical Documentation
| Stands for | Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation, a medical documentation abbreviation.
Structured communication tool for handoffs and urgent calls, giving the current problem, relevant context, the speaker's assessment and a clear request. It is the standard format nurses use when phoning a provider.
Example: SBAR: S BP 82/50; B post-op day 1 colectomy; A possible bleed; R please evaluate now.
Usage notes
Originated in the US Navy for submarine communication and adapted for healthcare by Kaiser Permanente in the early 2000s. It is promoted by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and taught in nursing schools worldwide. Variants include ISBAR and SBAR-R, which adds read-back.
Related abbreviations
More medical documentation abbreviations
- PTA – Prior to admission
- PWID – People who inject drugs
- Px – Prognosis
- R/O – Rule out
- ROS – Review of systems
- RTC – Return to clinic
- SH – Social history
- SOAP – Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
- SOAPIE – Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan, Intervention, Evaluation
- SOB – Shortness of breath
- Sx – Symptoms
- TO – Telephone order
See all 79 medical documentation abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.