Medication Administration SOP Template
A free medication administration SOP template for healthcare teams. Use it directly - no signup or email.
What is a nursing handover template?
A nursing handover template guides the transfer of patient information from one nurse to another at shift change. The SBAR format - Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation - is the standard endorsed by NHS England and the WHO.
The template
Nursing Handover Template
NURSING HANDOVER - SBAR FORMAT
Ward / Unit:
[Ward or unit name]
Date:
[Date]
Shift:
MorningAfternoonNight
Nurse giving handover:
[Name and role]
Nurse receiving handover:
[Name and role]
PATIENT DETAILS
Patient identifier:
[Hospital number]
Bed:
[Bed number]
Age:
[Age]
Admitting diagnosis:
[Diagnosis]
Admission date:
[Date]
Treating doctor:
[Name]
Resuscitation status:
FullDNAROther:
Isolation required:
Yes - type:No
Allergies:
[List or write None known]
S - SITUATION | What is happening right now?
Current concern:
[One to two sentences - the immediate issue only]
Vital signs:
Temperature:°C
Blood pressure:/
Heart rate:bpm
Resp rate:breaths/min
O2 saturation:%
Pain score:/ 10
Blood glucose:
Level of consciousness:
AlertConfusedDrowsyUnresponsive
Status:
- Deteriorating - escalation triggered: ☐ Yes ☐ No
- No change
- Improving
B - BACKGROUND | What is the relevant history?
Reason for admission:
[Brief - one to two sentences]
Relevant medical history:
[Conditions relevant to current care only]
Relevant procedures:
[Recent procedures relevant to this shift]
Current medications:
[List or reference medication chart]
Recent investigations:
[Results relevant to this shift]
Changes in last 24 hours:
[Significant changes in condition]
A - ASSESSMENT | What do you think is happening?
Clinical status:
- Stable
- Requires monitoring
- Deteriorating - escalation plan in place
- Palliative - comfort care only
Your concern:
[What you are worried about this shift]
Active problems:
Problem 1:
Problem 2:
Problem 3:
R - RECOMMENDATION | What needs to happen next?
Pending tasks:
- Medications due:
- Bloods or investigations:
- Dressings or procedures:
- Specialist review:
- Family communication:
- Discharge planning:
- Other:
Monitoring this shift:
Vital signs:Everyhours
Fluid balance:
YesNo
Blood glucose:
Yes - frequency:
Other:
If patient deteriorates:
[Escalation plan or reference to protocol]
Anything time-critical:
Yes - describe:No
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Family or carer:
[Contact, visiting, language needs]
Safeguarding concerns:
[Note and refer to policy]
Equipment or infection control:
[IV, catheters, isolation]
HANDOVER CONFIRMATION
Completed:
Yes
Questions asked:
YesNone
Outstanding concerns:
Yes - noted aboveNone
Giving handover:
Name:Time:
Receiving handover:
Name:Time:
Get instant answers from your documents
Private and self-hosted
Every answer cites its source
One-time payment, no monthly fees
What this template covers
Patient details
identifier, bed, diagnosis, resuscitation status, allergies, isolation
S - Situation
current concern, vital signs, consciousness, deterioration status
B - Background
admission reason, medical history, medications, investigations, recent changes
A - Assessment
clinical status, clinical concern, active problems for this shift
R - Recommendation
pending tasks, monitoring requirements, escalation plan, time-critical items
Additional notes
family, safeguarding, equipment and infection control
Handover confirmation
signed by both nurses with time recorded
How to use this template
Complete patient details before the handover
Fill in the header and patient section before sitting down with the incoming nurse.
Start with S - current concern first
The incoming nurse needs to know what is happening right now before they hear the background.
Keep B relevant to this shift only
Include only history, medications, and results that affect what the incoming nurse needs to do.
State your clinical concern clearly in A
Do not leave the assessment blank - the incoming nurse needs to know what you are worried about.
Be specific in R - tasks and monitoring
Tick every pending task and state monitoring frequency - not general instructions.
Allow questions and confirm handover
Both nurses sign and record the time.
Related templates
Other templates that work alongside this one.
Medical Incident Report Template
A free medical incident report template for healthcare teams. Document patient safety incidents and near misses. No signup required.
Healthcare Compliance Checklist Template
A free healthcare compliance checklist based on HHS OIG compliance program guidance. No signup or email required.
