Free nursing template
Nursing Handoff Report (Hand Off Report for Nurses)
Use this nursing handoff report (hand off report for nurses) at every change of shift to pass patient status, medications, and flagged concerns — with a clear incoming acknowledgment.
Report what changed — do not re-read the full chart at every handoff
Use SBAR for any single flagged concern that needs judgment
Confirm acknowledgment before clock-out
What to include
- Patient/resident status changes since the last report — not a full chart reread
- Medications given and anything due before the next round
- Out-of-range vitals or observations, flagged clearly
- SBAR-ready notes for any one concern that needs verbal briefing
- Incoming nurse or aide acknowledgment before the outgoing staff leaves
The template
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Date & shift | 2026-07-26, Day → Evening |
| Outgoing / incoming | Outgoing: Nurse T. Reyes → Incoming: Nurse S. Klein |
| Status changes | Rm 12: appetite improved, ambulating with assistance |
| Medication given / due | Rm 12: 14:00 dose given; next due 20:00 |
| Vitals / observations flagged | Rm 7: BP 148/92 at 15:30 — above baseline — charge nurse notified |
| SBAR concern (if any) | S: elevated BP · B: baseline 128/78 · A: trending up · R: recheck 17:00, call if >150 systolic |
| Incoming acknowledgment | Signed/initialed before outgoing staff leaves floor |
How CrewSignals replaces the static template
A downloaded template works until more than one shift needs it at once. CrewSignals keeps the same fields — priority alerts, open issues, follow-ups — as a structured, searchable record, with acknowledgment tracked automatically instead of chased down after the fact.
FAQ
Is a nursing handoff report the same as SBAR?
SBAR is a framework for one concern. This handoff report is the full unit handoff; use SBAR inside it for any flagged patient.
Can this replace facility EHR documentation?
No — it is the shift-to-shift handoff layer, not the medical record. Follow your facility's required clinical documentation.
Do I need to report on every patient if nothing changed?
Briefly yes — "no change" confirms the outgoing nurse reviewed that patient rather than leaving a gap the incoming nurse must guess about.
Where can I learn SBAR in more detail?
See our SBAR handover for nursing shifts guide, then use this report as the daily handoff structure.
Get started with the template
Download it as Markdown or CSV, or start running handovers in CrewSignals for free.