Which SBAR component (Situation, Background, Assessment, or Recommendation) is being used when the nurse reports a 31‑year‑old primigravida in the ICU after emergency cesarean section for uterine rupture who now has shortness of breath, tachycardia, and tachypnea?

SBAR Component: Recommendation

The nurse is using the "Recommendation" component of SBAR by explicitly telling the resident "he should come to evaluate the patient." 1, 2, 3

Understanding SBAR Framework in This Clinical Scenario

The SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) communication tool structures critical clinical information systematically:

Breaking Down This Communication

Situation component would include:

• Patient in bed 3 ICU
• Currently complaining of shortness of breath 1, 2

Background component would include:

• 31-year-old female primigravida
• Post-emergency cesarean section for uterine rupture 4

Assessment component would include:

• Tachycardia and tachypnea (objective clinical findings) 1, 2, 3

Recommendation component is clearly stated:

• "He should come to evaluate the patient" - this is the explicit action request 1, 2, 3

Why This Matters Clinically

This post-uterine rupture patient presenting with respiratory distress requires urgent evaluation for:

• Pulmonary embolism (high-risk postpartum complication) 4
• Hemorrhagic shock with compensatory tachycardia (uterine rupture can cause massive blood loss requiring aggressive crystalloid resuscitation and massive transfusion protocol) 3
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (reported complication of uterine rupture) 5
• Unrecognized ongoing bleeding requiring reoperation 3

The recommendation for immediate physician evaluation is appropriate given that uterine rupture survivors require vigilant monitoring for renal failure, liver failure, infection, unrecognized ureteral/bladder/bowel injury, pulmonary edema, and disseminated intravascular coagulation 3.

Common Pitfall

The key distinguishing feature is the directive action statement ("should come to evaluate"), which transforms this from merely presenting information into making a specific recommendation for physician response 1, 2, 3.