S – situation•Identify yourself the site/unit you are calling from.•Identify the patient by name and the reason for your communication.•Describe your concern.The following example shows how to explain the specific situation about which you arecalling, including the patient’s name, consultant, patient location, code status, and vitalsigns.‘This is Jenny, a registered nurse on Nightingale Ward. The reason I’mcalling is because Mrs Taylor in room 225 has become suddenly short ofbreath, her oxygen saturation has dropped to 88% on room air, herrespiration rate is 24 per minute, her heart rate is 110 and her bloodpressure is 85/50.We have placed her on six litres of oxygen and her saturation is 93%, herwork of breathing is increased, she is anxious, her breath sounds are clearthroughout and her respiratory rate remains greater than 20.’B – background•Give the patient’s reason for admission•Explain significant medical history•Inform the receiver of the information of the patient’s background: admitting diagnosis, date of admission, prior procedures, current medications, allergies, pertinent laboratory results and other relevant diagnostic results. For this part in the process you need to have collected information from the patient’s chart and notes. For example:‘Mrs. Smith is a 69 year old woman who was admitted 10 days ago followinga car accident with a T 5 burst fracture and a T 6 ASIA B SCI. She had T 3-T 7instrumentation and fusion nine days ago. Her only complication was a righthaemothorax for which a chest drain was put in place. The drain wasremoved five days ago and her chest x-ray has shown significantimprovement. She has been mobilising with physio and has been progressing well. Her haemoglobin is 100 gm/L but otherwise her blood work is with innormal limits. She has been on Enoxaparin for DVT prophylaxis and Oxycodone for pain management.