How to hand over using SBAR

A short, spoken structure for shift handover, escalation and closing the loop. Log the skill — never the clinical record.

What handover is for

Handover is how responsibility for work moves from one professional or team to another. It is not a full case history and it is not a private chat.

A good handover is short, ordered, and ends with a clear ask: what should happen next, by whom, and by when.

SBAR is Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation. Say the four parts in that order. Do not pad.

Part	In a handover, this means	Example shape (no identifiers)
Situation	Who you are, where you are, and why you are handing over now.	Night registrar, acute take. One adult needs senior review.
Background	Only the facts the next person needs to act.	Admitted this evening. Treatment started. Outstanding result.
Assessment	Your professional view, including uncertainty.	I think this is worsening. I am not sure about the cause.
Recommendation	The ask, the time, and how you will follow up.	Please review within 15 minutes. I will stay until you arrive.

If you cannot name the recommendation, you are not ready to hand over.

Stop the other person long enough to be heard. Name your role.
Situation: one line on why this handover is happening now.
Background: three facts maximum unless they ask for more.
Assessment: what you think, and what you are unsure about.
Recommendation: what you need them to do, by when.
Confirm they have the ask. Write the outstanding actions in the workplace system, not in Elaryvo.

Logbook → Communication. Date, setting type, your role (for example night registrar handing over the take).

Note which SBAR parts you used and one thing to tighten next time.

If a supervisor observed the handover, request Handover (SBAR) from Assessments.

Add a reflection only if you learned something you would want a later supervisor to see.

The log shows you practise structured handover. It must never become a copy of the clinical list.

Do not paste names, bed numbers, results, or a ward list. Elaryvo is a professional evidence record, not an EHR.

If you would not want anyone to read a line, do not write it here.