Transfer / Handoff Nursing Note Example
A transfer or handoff note documents that responsibility for a patient moved to another nurse, unit or facility, and the patient's status at that time.
Educational use & privacy
Educational documentation practice only. Use fictional or instructor-provided information. Do not enter real patient information or protected health information (PHI). Documentation requirements vary by organization, setting, role, policy, and applicable law.
Nursing Notes Privacy & SafetyContent status: Draft — not yet professionally reviewed.
Why it is structured this way
Handoffs are points where information can be lost. Documenting who received report, when, and the patient's status at the moment of transfer creates a clear starting point for the receiving team.
When this may be used
- Transfers between units or facilities, and handoffs per policy.
- Many organizations use SBAR or another structured tool for the verbal report.
- Documentation requirements, frequency and screens vary by organization, setting and EHR. Follow your program's and facility's policy.
Components
Report given
Handoff.
What belongs here
- Time, to whom (role/name per policy), method
What does not belong
- Report not given
Status at transfer
Condition.
What belongs here
- Findings at time of transfer
What does not belong
- Old findings
Devices and belongings
What went with the patient.
What belongs here
- Lines, oxygen, belongings per policy
What does not belong
- Unverified items
Departure
How.
What belongs here
- Time, method, accompanied by
What does not belong
- Guesses
Short fictional example
- Narrative
- 1615: Report given by phone to receiving nurse on step-down unit using SBAR. 1640: Transferred by bed with portable monitor, accompanied by this nurse.
More detailed fictional example
- Situation
- Transferring Fictional Patient A to the telemetry unit per transfer order.
- Background
- Admitted 2 days ago with chest pain per record; on continuous cardiac monitoring.
- Assessment
- At 1600: heart rate 82, sinus rhythm on monitor; blood pressure 128/76; SpO2 97% on room air. Patient rates chest pain 0/10.
- Recommendation
- Next scheduled vital signs due at 2000. Patient's spouse has been told the new room number.
- Documentation
- 1615: Report given by phone to receiving nurse using SBAR. 1640: Transferred by wheelchair with portable monitor; glasses and phone sent with patient.
Annotated example
Notes on the detailed example above:
Report given by phone to receiving nurse using SBAR.
— Who, when and how the handoff happened.At 1600: heart rate 82…
— Status at the time of transfer.
Common mistakes
- No time or recipient of report.
- Status copied from earlier.
- Belongings or devices not documented per policy.
Good vs poor documentation
Weaker (fictional)
Pt transferred.
Stronger (fictional)
1615: Report given by phone to receiving nurse using SBAR. 1640: Transferred by wheelchair with portable monitor.
Why: Time, recipient and method.
Blank educational template
SBAR communication: A structure for organizing a verbal or written report. Prompts only; nothing is prefilled.
- Situation
- [Who you are, who the patient is, and the concern right now]
- Background
- [Relevant history, diagnosis, recent changes]
- Assessment
- [Current findings and your assessment of the situation]
- Recommendation
- [What you are requesting or suggesting; read back any orders received]
Practice this format
- Practice Note Builder — write a practice note from a fictional scenario.
- Documentation practice questions
Related documentation guides
- SBAR
- End-of-shift note
- Provider notification
- NCLEX Management of Care review — Handoff and continuity of care.
Sources
- ANA's Principles for Nursing Documentation (2010) — American Nurses Association.
- Nursing Fundamentals 2e — 2.5 Documentation — Open RN (Chippewa Valley Technical College).
- Fundamentals of Nursing — 14.5 Guidelines for Effective Documentation — OpenStax.
- TeamSTEPPS — SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) — Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
- Nursing Management and Professional Concepts 2e — Open RN / NCBI Bookshelf.
All examples on this page are original and fictional. Sources are used to check principles; they do not endorse Dosage Calcs. See Privacy & Safety.