The short answer
- ISBAR is a fixed order for passing on information about a patient, so the person listening hears what matters and knows what you need.
- Use it every time you call your registrar, refer to another team or hand over at the end of a shift.
- Lead with what you need, and end by reading back the plan.
On this page
Most ISBAR handover examples online are written for nurses. These three are written for junior doctors: the call you make about a patient you’re worried about, the referral to another team, and the handover at the end of your shift.
What ISBAR stands for
Identify yourself and the patient. Give the Situation in one sentence, the relevant Background, your Assessment, and your Recommendation: what you need, and by when.
Before you dial, have the observations and their trend, the chart, the latest results and your own plan in front of you.
Example: calling your registrar
The situation: you’ve been asked to see Mrs Huong Tran, 81, two days after surgery for a hip fracture. She’s newly confused, and her blood pressure has dropped since this morning. You’ve seen her and you’re worried.
- Identify: “Hi, it’s Alex, the intern covering Ward 6. I’m calling about Mrs Huong Tran in bed 14.”
- Situation: “She’s newly confused and her blood pressure has dropped to 90/70. I’m worried she’s septic or bleeding.”
- Background: “She’s 81, day 2 after a hip fracture repair. She was alert and chatty this morning.”
- Assessment: “She’s drowsy but rousable, warm peripherally, and her heart rate’s 110. Her haemoglobin has dropped to 75 from 95 yesterday. The wound looks clean, but more swollen. I’ve sent cultures and a repeat set of bloods, and started fluids per the post-op plan.”
- Recommendation: “Could you come and review her in the next 15 minutes? Is there anything you’d like me to do before you get here?”
Close the loop: “So you’ll be here in 15 minutes. In the meantime I’ll repeat her observations, check a blood gas and check her group and hold is still valid. I’ll call you straight back if her blood pressure drops further.” Write the call in the notes, with the time and your registrar’s name.
For when to make this call, and what to do if you’re not happy with the answer, see when to call your registrar.
Example: making a referral
A good referral gives the other team what they need to decide, and asks a clear question. Have the notes, results and imaging open before you call.
The situation: Ms Amara Okeke, 54, was admitted under your medical team with vomiting. Her abdomen is now distended, and the X-ray suggests a small bowel obstruction. Your registrar has asked you to refer her to the surgical team.
- Identify: “Hi, it’s Sam, the intern with General Medicine. Is this the surgical registrar on call? I’d like to refer a patient.”
- Situation: “Ms Amara Okeke, 54, in Ward 8, bed 3. We think she has a small bowel obstruction, and I’d like you to review her for surgical management.”
- Background: “She had an open hysterectomy 10 years ago. She was admitted yesterday with vomiting, which we’d thought was gastroenteritis.”
- Assessment: “Her abdomen is distended and tender with no peritonism. She hasn’t opened her bowels or passed wind since yesterday. Her observations are stable. The X-ray shows dilated small bowel loops, and her bloods are on the system.”
- Recommendation: “Could you see her this afternoon? Would you like a CT before you come, and should we keep her nil by mouth and put in a nasogastric tube in the meantime?”
Close the loop: “Thanks. So you’ll see her after theatre, around 16:00, and you’d like a CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast first. I’ll request it now.” Document the referral, the name of the person you spoke to, and the plan. Tell your registrar.
Example: handing over a patient
Handover each patient in the same order, sickest first. Give the next doctor what they need to act, not the whole history.
“Mr Tomasi Fifita, bed 7, 67, COPD with pneumonia. He’s the one I’m most worried about. His oxygen requirement went up this afternoon. ICU reviewed him and he’s staying on the ward for now. He’s for full escalation, and the decision’s documented.
Jobs for you: repeat his blood gas at 22:00. If his CO₂ is higher or he’s drowsier, call the registrar and ICU straight away.
Done: sputum culture sent, chest X-ray reviewed, family updated at 17:00.”
Many health services use ISBAR for handover between shifts as well as for calls, and some use a structured electronic handover tool. Use the format your unit uses.
After a night on call, use the morning handover checklist.
ISBAR template
Tick through it before your next call, or screenshot it.
General education for doctors, not advice about a particular patient. Your hospital’s policies and your seniors always come first.
Sources (1)
- Action 6.07 - Clinical handover (Communicating for Safety Standard)Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
Adapted from Get Started Medicine shared scripts (calling your registrar, making a referral, handover) and First Night On Call, chapter 4, version 2026.2, Australian Edition.