Interprofessional Comm: 2026 SBAR Handover Mastery
1. A nurse is reviewing the SBAR communication tool. Which of the following correctly identifies the
components of the SBAR acronym?
A. Symptom, History, Assessment, Referral
B. Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
C. Status, Behavior, Action, Response
D. Severity, Biological factors, Analysis, Remediation
Correct Answer: B. Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
Rationale: SBAR is a standardized communication framework recommended by safety organizations to facilitate
clear, concise, and structured communication among healthcare team members. It stands for Situation,
Background, Assessment, and Recommendation.
2. During a telephone call to a healthcare provider, the nurse states, "The client is a 55-year-old male
admitted yesterday with acute decompensated heart failure. He has a history of coronary artery
disease and hypertension." Under which SBAR component does this information belong?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: B. Background
Rationale: The "Background" component of SBAR includes relevant historical data, such as the admitting
diagnosis, date of admission, medical history, allergies, current medications, and code status. The "Situation" (A)
provides only the immediate, current reason for the communication. "Assessment" (C) provides current clinical
findings and measurements. "Recommendation" (D) suggests what should be done.
3. While calling a provider about a client's sudden change in status, the nurse reports: "The client's
heart rate has increased to 124 beats per minute, respiratory rate is 28 breaths per minute, and oxygen
saturation has dropped from 96% to 89% on room air." How should this information be categorized in
the SBAR format?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: C. Assessment
Rationale: The "Assessment" component contains the nurse's clinical findings, physical evaluation, vital signs,
laboratory values, or changes in clinical status that were measured during the nursing assessment. This represents
,current, raw objective and subjective data.
4. A nurse is calling the on-call resident about a client with new-onset abdominal pain. Which of the
following statements belongs in the "Situation" section of the SBAR report?
A. "I am calling about Mr. Jones in room 304, who is experiencing sudden, sharp right lower quadrant
abdominal pain."
B. "The client underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy 48 hours ago."
C. "The abdomen is rigid and tender to light palpation with guarding."
D. "I recommend obtaining an abdominal ultrasound and ordering a stat complete blood count."
Correct Answer: A. "I am calling about Mr. Jones in room 304, who is experiencing sudden, sharp right
lower quadrant abdominal pain."
Rationale: The "Situation" section contains a brief statement of the problem: who you are calling about, where
they are, and the immediate, current concern (new sharp pain). Statement B is Background. Statement C is
Assessment. Statement D is Recommendation.
5. Under which SBAR component should a nurse place the following statement: "I think the client
should be evaluated for a suspected deep vein thrombosis, and I suggest we order a venous duplex
ultrasound of the left lower extremity"?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: D. Recommendation
Rationale: The "Recommendation" section is where the nurse suggests a plan of action, requests a specific test,
drug, or referral, or states the urgency of the provider's evaluation. It answers the question, "What do we need to
do to address the situation?"
6. A nurse is preparing to call a physician about a client's elevated temperature. Before making the
call, what is the most important clinical action the nurse should take to ensure a complete SBAR
report?
A. Check the physician's office hours.
B. Gather all current clinical data, including recent vital signs, lab values, medication administration history,
and have the chart open.
C. Ask the charge nurse to make the call instead.
D. Document the phone call in the progress notes before dialing.
Correct Answer: B. Gather all current clinical data, including recent vital signs, lab values, medication
administration history, and have the chart open.
,Rationale: To communicate effectively using SBAR, the nurse must have all relevant data ready before initiating
contact. This prevents delays during the call and ensures that clinical decisions are made based on complete,
current information. Calling without assessing the patient or having records ready compromises patient safety.
7. A nurse is calling the provider about a patient with COPD who is increasingly short of breath. The
nurse states: "I think the patient is retaining carbon dioxide and is in respiratory acidosis." Which
section of the SBAR does this statement represent?
A. Background
B. Situation
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: C. Assessment
Rationale: In SBAR, the "Assessment" component can include both raw clinical data (vital signs) and the nurse's
clinical interpretation of what is happening (e.g., "I think the patient is retaining carbon dioxide"). The nurse is
communicating their professional analysis of the situation based on clinical judgment.
8. When communicating a patient's code status (e.g., Do Not Resuscitate) to a consulting physician
using the SBAR format, in which section should the nurse place this information?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: B. Background
Rationale: Code status is a vital piece of historical and administrative context that dictates the boundaries of care.
It is classified under the "Background" section of SBAR along with medical history and allergies.
9. What is the primary safety benefit of using the SBAR communication framework during
interprofessional communications?
A. It reduces the time spent talking on the telephone.
B. It standardizes the structure of communication, reducing the risk of omitting critical clinical details and
mitigating communication breakdowns.
C. It allows the nurse to delegate tasks to the physician.
D. It eliminates the need for written EHR documentation.
Correct Answer: B. It standardizes the structure of communication, reducing the risk of omitting critical
clinical details and mitigating communication breakdowns.
Rationale: Communication failure is a leading cause of sentinel events in hospitals. Standardizing the format of
communication via SBAR ensures that both sender and receiver have a shared expectation of what details will be
, delivered (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation), preventing critical omissions.
10. A nurse is calling the provider regarding a patient who has not voided for 8 hours post-op. Which
of the following is the most appropriate "Recommendation" statement?
A. "The patient's bladder is distended and they have a history of benign prostatic hyperplasia."
B. "I recommend we perform a bladder scan, and if the volume is over 300 mL, obtain an order for a straight
catheterization."
C. "I think the patient has acute renal failure."
D. "The patient had a hip replacement under spinal anesthesia."
Correct Answer: B. "I recommend we perform a bladder scan, and if the volume is over 300 mL, obtain an
order for a straight catheterization."
Rationale: A proper recommendation proposes a specific, actionable solution to the identified problem. Option B
suggests a concrete diagnostic action (bladder scan) and a therapeutic response (catheterization). A
(Background/Assessment), C (Assessment), and D (Background) do not offer recommendations.
11. A nurse is giving a shift report to the incoming nurse. The nurse mentions: "The client was
admitted with pneumonia and started on IV Ceftriaxone. They have a known allergy to Penicillin." In
which SBAR category does the drug allergy belong?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: B. Background
Rationale: Patient allergies are standard historical background information that must be communicated to ensure
safety during handovers. Allergies belong in the "Background" section.
12. During an SBAR report, the nurse states: "The surgical incision is intact, but there is 2 cm of
surrounding erythema and purulent drainage, and the client reports a pain score of 8 out of 10."
Which section does this statement belong to?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: C. Assessment
Rationale: Physical findings, wound observations (erythema, drainage), and subjective pain reports are current
findings measured during the nurse's clinical evaluation, making them part of the "Assessment" phase.
1. A nurse is reviewing the SBAR communication tool. Which of the following correctly identifies the
components of the SBAR acronym?
A. Symptom, History, Assessment, Referral
B. Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
C. Status, Behavior, Action, Response
D. Severity, Biological factors, Analysis, Remediation
Correct Answer: B. Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
Rationale: SBAR is a standardized communication framework recommended by safety organizations to facilitate
clear, concise, and structured communication among healthcare team members. It stands for Situation,
Background, Assessment, and Recommendation.
2. During a telephone call to a healthcare provider, the nurse states, "The client is a 55-year-old male
admitted yesterday with acute decompensated heart failure. He has a history of coronary artery
disease and hypertension." Under which SBAR component does this information belong?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: B. Background
Rationale: The "Background" component of SBAR includes relevant historical data, such as the admitting
diagnosis, date of admission, medical history, allergies, current medications, and code status. The "Situation" (A)
provides only the immediate, current reason for the communication. "Assessment" (C) provides current clinical
findings and measurements. "Recommendation" (D) suggests what should be done.
3. While calling a provider about a client's sudden change in status, the nurse reports: "The client's
heart rate has increased to 124 beats per minute, respiratory rate is 28 breaths per minute, and oxygen
saturation has dropped from 96% to 89% on room air." How should this information be categorized in
the SBAR format?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: C. Assessment
Rationale: The "Assessment" component contains the nurse's clinical findings, physical evaluation, vital signs,
laboratory values, or changes in clinical status that were measured during the nursing assessment. This represents
,current, raw objective and subjective data.
4. A nurse is calling the on-call resident about a client with new-onset abdominal pain. Which of the
following statements belongs in the "Situation" section of the SBAR report?
A. "I am calling about Mr. Jones in room 304, who is experiencing sudden, sharp right lower quadrant
abdominal pain."
B. "The client underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy 48 hours ago."
C. "The abdomen is rigid and tender to light palpation with guarding."
D. "I recommend obtaining an abdominal ultrasound and ordering a stat complete blood count."
Correct Answer: A. "I am calling about Mr. Jones in room 304, who is experiencing sudden, sharp right
lower quadrant abdominal pain."
Rationale: The "Situation" section contains a brief statement of the problem: who you are calling about, where
they are, and the immediate, current concern (new sharp pain). Statement B is Background. Statement C is
Assessment. Statement D is Recommendation.
5. Under which SBAR component should a nurse place the following statement: "I think the client
should be evaluated for a suspected deep vein thrombosis, and I suggest we order a venous duplex
ultrasound of the left lower extremity"?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: D. Recommendation
Rationale: The "Recommendation" section is where the nurse suggests a plan of action, requests a specific test,
drug, or referral, or states the urgency of the provider's evaluation. It answers the question, "What do we need to
do to address the situation?"
6. A nurse is preparing to call a physician about a client's elevated temperature. Before making the
call, what is the most important clinical action the nurse should take to ensure a complete SBAR
report?
A. Check the physician's office hours.
B. Gather all current clinical data, including recent vital signs, lab values, medication administration history,
and have the chart open.
C. Ask the charge nurse to make the call instead.
D. Document the phone call in the progress notes before dialing.
Correct Answer: B. Gather all current clinical data, including recent vital signs, lab values, medication
administration history, and have the chart open.
,Rationale: To communicate effectively using SBAR, the nurse must have all relevant data ready before initiating
contact. This prevents delays during the call and ensures that clinical decisions are made based on complete,
current information. Calling without assessing the patient or having records ready compromises patient safety.
7. A nurse is calling the provider about a patient with COPD who is increasingly short of breath. The
nurse states: "I think the patient is retaining carbon dioxide and is in respiratory acidosis." Which
section of the SBAR does this statement represent?
A. Background
B. Situation
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: C. Assessment
Rationale: In SBAR, the "Assessment" component can include both raw clinical data (vital signs) and the nurse's
clinical interpretation of what is happening (e.g., "I think the patient is retaining carbon dioxide"). The nurse is
communicating their professional analysis of the situation based on clinical judgment.
8. When communicating a patient's code status (e.g., Do Not Resuscitate) to a consulting physician
using the SBAR format, in which section should the nurse place this information?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: B. Background
Rationale: Code status is a vital piece of historical and administrative context that dictates the boundaries of care.
It is classified under the "Background" section of SBAR along with medical history and allergies.
9. What is the primary safety benefit of using the SBAR communication framework during
interprofessional communications?
A. It reduces the time spent talking on the telephone.
B. It standardizes the structure of communication, reducing the risk of omitting critical clinical details and
mitigating communication breakdowns.
C. It allows the nurse to delegate tasks to the physician.
D. It eliminates the need for written EHR documentation.
Correct Answer: B. It standardizes the structure of communication, reducing the risk of omitting critical
clinical details and mitigating communication breakdowns.
Rationale: Communication failure is a leading cause of sentinel events in hospitals. Standardizing the format of
communication via SBAR ensures that both sender and receiver have a shared expectation of what details will be
, delivered (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation), preventing critical omissions.
10. A nurse is calling the provider regarding a patient who has not voided for 8 hours post-op. Which
of the following is the most appropriate "Recommendation" statement?
A. "The patient's bladder is distended and they have a history of benign prostatic hyperplasia."
B. "I recommend we perform a bladder scan, and if the volume is over 300 mL, obtain an order for a straight
catheterization."
C. "I think the patient has acute renal failure."
D. "The patient had a hip replacement under spinal anesthesia."
Correct Answer: B. "I recommend we perform a bladder scan, and if the volume is over 300 mL, obtain an
order for a straight catheterization."
Rationale: A proper recommendation proposes a specific, actionable solution to the identified problem. Option B
suggests a concrete diagnostic action (bladder scan) and a therapeutic response (catheterization). A
(Background/Assessment), C (Assessment), and D (Background) do not offer recommendations.
11. A nurse is giving a shift report to the incoming nurse. The nurse mentions: "The client was
admitted with pneumonia and started on IV Ceftriaxone. They have a known allergy to Penicillin." In
which SBAR category does the drug allergy belong?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: B. Background
Rationale: Patient allergies are standard historical background information that must be communicated to ensure
safety during handovers. Allergies belong in the "Background" section.
12. During an SBAR report, the nurse states: "The surgical incision is intact, but there is 2 cm of
surrounding erythema and purulent drainage, and the client reports a pain score of 8 out of 10."
Which section does this statement belong to?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: C. Assessment
Rationale: Physical findings, wound observations (erythema, drainage), and subjective pain reports are current
findings measured during the nurse's clinical evaluation, making them part of the "Assessment" phase.
