Page
Nursing
1 of 348
Excellence Linda Campbell
2026/
Marcia
//2027
A.Gilbert Ga
,2027//studyguideCapstone Coach for
Page
Nursing
2 of 348
Excellence Linda Campbell
2026/
Marcia
//2027
A.Gilbert Ga
SBAR report to physician about a critical situation
Situation
I am calling about <patient’s name and location>
The patient’s code status is <code status>
The problem I am calling about is .
I am afraid the patient is going to arrest.
S I have just assessed the patient personally:
Vital signs are: Blood pressure
I am concerned about the:
/ , Pulse , Respiration , and Temperature
Blood pressure because it is over 200 or less than 100 or 30 mm Hg below usual
Pulse because it is over 140 or less than 50
Respiration because it is less than 5 or over 40
Temperature because it is less than 96 or over 104
Background
The patient’s mental status is:
Alert and oriented to person, place, and time
Confused and cooperative or non-cooperative
Agitated or combative
Lethargic but conversant and able to swallow
Stuporous and not talking clearly and possibly not able to swallow
Comatose. Eyes closed. Not responding to stimulation.
B
The skin is:
Warm and dry
Pale
Mottled
Diaphoretic
Extremities are cold
Extremities are warm
The patient is not or is on oxygen.
The patient has been on (L/min) or (%) oxygen for minutes (hours)
The oximeter is reading %
The oximeter does not detect a good pulse and is giving erratic readings
Assessment
This is what I think the problem is: <say what you think is the problem>
A The problem seems to be cardiac infection neurologic respiratory
I am not sure what the problem is but the patient is deteriorating.
The patient seems to be unstable and may get worse; we need to do something.
Recommendation
I suggest or request that you <say what you would like to see done>.
Transfer the patient to critical care.
Come to see the patient at this time.
Talk to the patient or family about code status.
Ask the on-call family practice resident to see the patient now.
R Ask for a consultant to see the patient now.
Are any tests needed:
Do you need any tests like CXR, ABG, EKG, CBC, or BMP?
Other?
If a change in treatment is ordered, then ask:
How often do you want vital signs?
How long do you expect this problem will last?
If the patient does not get better, when would you want us to call again?
Created by Wendeline J. Grbach, MSN, RN, CCRN, CLNC; reprinted with permission.
,2027//studyguideCapstone Coach for
Page
Nursing
3 of 348
Excellence Linda Campbell
2026/
Marcia
//2027
A.Gilbert Ga
Capstone Coach
Nursing for
Excellence
, 2027//studyguideCapstone Coach for
Page
Nursing
4 of 348
Excellence Linda Campbell
2026/
Marcia
//2027
A.Gilbert Ga