Using the SBAR communication tool in nursing management and organisational efficiency

Effective communication is a fundamental skill in the healthcare field. A significant portion of healthcare adverse events, including those involving nurses, could be prevented through active, clear, and precise communication. Among the most widespread tools to optimise this process is SBAR, an acronym for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. This structured communication tool organises the transmission of information to cover the current clinical scenario, the patient’s background, a critical analysis of the situation, and proposed actions for resolution. This integrative review aimed to discuss the use of the SBAR tool among nurses based on the current scientific literature. A search for articles was conducted in the second week of February 2026 using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS) databases with the descriptors “nurs*” and “SBAR.” Inclusion criteria comprised original research articles published in English within the last five years, involving nurses as participants, available in full text, and relevant to the study objectives. Initially, 37 articles were identified; seven were selected. The studies are from China (n = 1), Egypt (n = 1), Indonesia (n = 1), Iran (n = 2), Türkiye (n = 1) and the United States (n = 1), with samples ranging from 21 to 527 nurses. The results were organised into four categories: (1) improving verbal and written communication, (2) reducing the occurrence of errors and enhancing the quality of care, (3) integration with other quality management methodologies and (4) roles of management in the implementation of communication tools. Research showed that the use of the SBAR tool improved verbal and written communication, reducing the occurrence of errors and elevating the standard of care provided. Investigations particularly explored the use of the tool during handover and indicated that its efficacy can be further enhanced when integrated with other quality management methodologies. The role of nurse managers in implementing communication tools and training other team members was emphasised. In conclusion, the adoption of the SBAR tool should be encouraged in nursing, as it offers numerous benefits and can be integrated with other communication strategies to ensure continuity of care, ongoing clinical improvement, and effective health management.