What is a nurse report sheet?

A one-page sheet a nurse fills in at shift report to keep track of each patient: why they're here, their status by body system, what's due and what to watch for. Nurses often call it a brain sheet.

What should a nursing report sheet include?

Illness severity, a short summary with code status and allergies, a systems review, lines and drains, a timed action list, contingencies for what might change, and a place to confirm the receiver read it back.

How does this sheet fit with I-PASS?

The sections follow I-PASS order: Illness severity, Patient summary, Action list, Situation awareness and contingency planning, and Synthesis by receiver. A systems review sits inside the patient summary.

Can I use it for bedside shift report?

Yes. Give the summary at the bedside, check the ID band, lines, pumps and alarms together, and step out for anything sensitive the patient doesn't want shared.

Meeting kitHealthcareHandovers

Nurse report sheet

12 minutes 8 blocksFree Free template

A one-patient report sheet in I-PASS order, the start-of-shift report that uses it, and a print-ready copy of the sheet in the follow-up.

Use this template See inside

Free to use and to run live. No card needed.

12 min · 8 blocks, drawn to scale Fits exactly

Unit snapshot: who is unstable, who is a watcher, staffing, 2 minutes
Illness severity: stable, watcher or unstable, 1 minutes
Patient summary: why they're here, history, code status, allergies, 2 minutes
Systems: neuro, cardiac, respiratory, GI/GU, skin, lines and drains, 2 minutes
Action list: meds, labs and tasks due, each with a time and owner, 1 minutes
Situation awareness: what could change and what to do if it does, 1 minutes
Bedside check: ID band, lines, pumps, alarms, call light in reach, 2 minutes
Synthesis: the receiver reads back and asks questions, 1 minutes

+0′Unit snapshot: who is unstable, who is a watcher, staffingTip: The charge nurse names the unstable and watcher patients first, so those reports happen first while everyone is fresh.2 minInfo
+2′Illness severity: stable, watcher or unstableTip: Say the severity before anything else. It tells the receiver how closely to listen.1 minInfo
+3′Patient summary: why they're here, history, code status, allergiesTip: Lead with a one-line summary statement, then fill in the sheet's summary box. Code status and allergies are never skipped.2 minInfo
+5′Systems: neuro, cardiac, respiratory, GI/GU, skin, lines and drainsTip: Report what's abnormal or changed. 'Within normal limits' is fine for systems with nothing to say.2 minDiscuss
+7′Action list: meds, labs and tasks due, each with a time and ownerTip: Every to-do gets a time. If something was not done on your shift, say so plainly and say why.1 minDecide
+8′Situation awareness: what could change and what to do if it doesTip: Phrase contingencies as if/then: 'If her pressure drops under 90, call the covering provider and start the fluid bolus that's ordered.'1 minDiscuss
+9′Bedside check: ID band, lines, pumps, alarms, call light in reachTip: Look together. Pump rates and drip concentrations are checked against the orders, not read off the sheet.2 minInfo
+11′Synthesis: the receiver reads back and asks questionsTip: The receiver summarizes in their own words and restates the action list. Don't move to the next patient until they have.1 minWrap-up

In short

A nurse report sheet (often called a brain sheet) is the page a nurse fills in during shift report to track each patient. This one follows I-PASS order: illness severity, patient summary and systems, a timed action list, if/then contingencies and the receiver's read-back. It comes with a timed start-of-shift report agenda.

Time: 12 minutes for the first patient, about 10 per patient after
Sections: I-PASS plus a systems review
Includes: Report agenda and a blank sheet
Plan: Free

Updated October 4, 2026

What's in the kit

By the end of this meeting, the oncoming nurse has a filled-in sheet for every patient and has read back each action list. The full agenda is drawn to scale above: every block has its own timer when you run it live.

The follow-up email

Subject

Nurse report sheet (blank, one per patient)

Print one sheet per patient. Fill it in on paper or in your EHR, never in email.

Date: ______  Shift: ______  Giving report: ______  Receiving: ______

I · ILLNESS SEVERITY
[ ] Stable   [ ] Watcher   [ ] Unstable

P · PATIENT SUMMARY
Room: ____  Age: ____  Admitted: ____  Provider: ____
Reason for admission / diagnosis: ______
Relevant history: ______
Code status: ____  Allergies: ____  Isolation: ____
Fall risk: ____  Diet: ____  Activity: ____
Hospital course so far: ______

Systems
Neuro / orientation / pain: ______
Cardiac (rhythm, BP, HR, edema): ______
Respiratory (O2, SpO2, lung sounds): ______
GI / GU (last BM, voiding, catheter, I&O): ______
Skin / wounds / drains: ______
Lines (site, date placed, fluids and rate): ______
Last vitals: ______  Abnormal labs: ______

A · ACTION LIST
Time | Task (meds, labs, procedures, consults) | Owner | Done
____ | ______ | ____ | [ ]
____ | ______ | ____ | [ ]
____ | ______ | ____ | [ ]

S · SITUATION AWARENESS AND CONTINGENCY
What could change: ______
If ______ then ______
Pending results / family concerns: ______

S · SYNTHESIS BY RECEIVER
[ ] Receiver summarized the patient
[ ] Questions asked and answered
[ ] Action list restated
Receiver initials: ____

How to run it

1Print the blank sheet from the follow-up and give the oncoming nurse one per patient before report starts.
2Keep patient names and identifiers out of Agendiq. Use the agenda for the timer and the order, and room numbers only if your policy allows.
3Run blocks two to eight once per patient, sickest first. Stretch the minutes for unstable patients and shorten them for stable ones.
4Finish the bedside check before the synthesis, so the read-back covers what you both just saw.
5Don't hand over the call light until the receiver has restated the action list.

Questions people ask

What is a nurse report sheet?: A one-page sheet a nurse fills in at shift report to keep track of each patient: why they're here, their status by body system, what's due and what to watch for. Nurses often call it a brain sheet.
What should a nursing report sheet include?: Illness severity, a short summary with code status and allergies, a systems review, lines and drains, a timed action list, contingencies for what might change, and a place to confirm the receiver read it back.
How does this sheet fit with I-PASS?: The sections follow I-PASS order: Illness severity, Patient summary, Action list, Situation awareness and contingency planning, and Synthesis by receiver. A systems review sits inside the patient summary.
Can I use it for bedside shift report?: Yes. Give the summary at the bedside, check the ID band, lines, pumps and alarms together, and step out for anything sensitive the patient doesn't want shared.

All meeting kits

Open it, make it yours, run it live.

Change anything in the editor. When you're ready, press Present: everyone joins with a scan and answers on their phone.

Free forever
Pro free for 14 days
No card needed
Guests never need an account

Use this template More meeting kits

Meeting kitHealthcareHandovers

Nurse report sheet

12 minutes 8 blocksFree Free template

A one-patient report sheet in I-PASS order, the start-of-shift report that uses it, and a print-ready copy of the sheet in the follow-up.

Use this template See inside

Free to use and to run live. No card needed.

12 min · 8 blocks, drawn to scale Fits exactly

Unit snapshot: who is unstable, who is a watcher, staffing, 2 minutes
Illness severity: stable, watcher or unstable, 1 minutes
Patient summary: why they're here, history, code status, allergies, 2 minutes
Systems: neuro, cardiac, respiratory, GI/GU, skin, lines and drains, 2 minutes
Action list: meds, labs and tasks due, each with a time and owner, 1 minutes
Situation awareness: what could change and what to do if it does, 1 minutes
Bedside check: ID band, lines, pumps, alarms, call light in reach, 2 minutes
Synthesis: the receiver reads back and asks questions, 1 minutes

+0′Unit snapshot: who is unstable, who is a watcher, staffingTip: The charge nurse names the unstable and watcher patients first, so those reports happen first while everyone is fresh.2 minInfo
+2′Illness severity: stable, watcher or unstableTip: Say the severity before anything else. It tells the receiver how closely to listen.1 minInfo
+3′Patient summary: why they're here, history, code status, allergiesTip: Lead with a one-line summary statement, then fill in the sheet's summary box. Code status and allergies are never skipped.2 minInfo
+5′Systems: neuro, cardiac, respiratory, GI/GU, skin, lines and drainsTip: Report what's abnormal or changed. 'Within normal limits' is fine for systems with nothing to say.2 minDiscuss
+7′Action list: meds, labs and tasks due, each with a time and ownerTip: Every to-do gets a time. If something was not done on your shift, say so plainly and say why.1 minDecide
+8′Situation awareness: what could change and what to do if it doesTip: Phrase contingencies as if/then: 'If her pressure drops under 90, call the covering provider and start the fluid bolus that's ordered.'1 minDiscuss
+9′Bedside check: ID band, lines, pumps, alarms, call light in reachTip: Look together. Pump rates and drip concentrations are checked against the orders, not read off the sheet.2 minInfo
+11′Synthesis: the receiver reads back and asks questionsTip: The receiver summarizes in their own words and restates the action list. Don't move to the next patient until they have.1 minWrap-up

In short

Time: 12 minutes for the first patient, about 10 per patient after
Sections: I-PASS plus a systems review
Includes: Report agenda and a blank sheet
Plan: Free

Updated October 4, 2026

What's in the kit

The follow-up email

Subject

Nurse report sheet (blank, one per patient)

Print one sheet per patient. Fill it in on paper or in your EHR, never in email.

Date: ______  Shift: ______  Giving report: ______  Receiving: ______

I · ILLNESS SEVERITY
[ ] Stable   [ ] Watcher   [ ] Unstable

P · PATIENT SUMMARY
Room: ____  Age: ____  Admitted: ____  Provider: ____
Reason for admission / diagnosis: ______
Relevant history: ______
Code status: ____  Allergies: ____  Isolation: ____
Fall risk: ____  Diet: ____  Activity: ____
Hospital course so far: ______

Systems
Neuro / orientation / pain: ______
Cardiac (rhythm, BP, HR, edema): ______
Respiratory (O2, SpO2, lung sounds): ______
GI / GU (last BM, voiding, catheter, I&O): ______
Skin / wounds / drains: ______
Lines (site, date placed, fluids and rate): ______
Last vitals: ______  Abnormal labs: ______

A · ACTION LIST
Time | Task (meds, labs, procedures, consults) | Owner | Done
____ | ______ | ____ | [ ]
____ | ______ | ____ | [ ]
____ | ______ | ____ | [ ]

S · SITUATION AWARENESS AND CONTINGENCY
What could change: ______
If ______ then ______
Pending results / family concerns: ______

S · SYNTHESIS BY RECEIVER
[ ] Receiver summarized the patient
[ ] Questions asked and answered
[ ] Action list restated
Receiver initials: ____

How to run it

1Print the blank sheet from the follow-up and give the oncoming nurse one per patient before report starts.
2Keep patient names and identifiers out of Agendiq. Use the agenda for the timer and the order, and room numbers only if your policy allows.
3Run blocks two to eight once per patient, sickest first. Stretch the minutes for unstable patients and shorten them for stable ones.
4Finish the bedside check before the synthesis, so the read-back covers what you both just saw.
5Don't hand over the call light until the receiver has restated the action list.

Questions people ask

What is a nurse report sheet?: A one-page sheet a nurse fills in at shift report to keep track of each patient: why they're here, their status by body system, what's due and what to watch for. Nurses often call it a brain sheet.
What should a nursing report sheet include?: Illness severity, a short summary with code status and allergies, a systems review, lines and drains, a timed action list, contingencies for what might change, and a place to confirm the receiver read it back.
How does this sheet fit with I-PASS?: The sections follow I-PASS order: Illness severity, Patient summary, Action list, Situation awareness and contingency planning, and Synthesis by receiver. A systems review sits inside the patient summary.
Can I use it for bedside shift report?: Yes. Give the summary at the bedside, check the ID band, lines, pumps and alarms together, and step out for anything sensitive the patient doesn't want shared.

All meeting kits

Open it, make it yours, run it live.

Change anything in the editor. When you're ready, press Present: everyone joins with a scan and answers on their phone.

Free forever
Pro free for 14 days
No card needed
Guests never need an account

Use this template More meeting kits

Nurse report sheet

What's in the kit

The follow-up email

How to run it

Questions people ask

SBAR: making the call

I-PASS handoffs

Welcome to the unit

Hand hygiene in-service

Gemba walk

HIPAA refresher

[Your topic]

Open it, make it yours, run it live.

Nurse report sheet

What's in the kit

The follow-up email

How to run it

Questions people ask

SBAR: making the call

I-PASS handoffs

Welcome to the unit

Hand hygiene in-service

Gemba walk

HIPAA refresher

[Your topic]

Open it, make it yours, run it live.

Nurse report sheet

What's in the kit

The follow-up email

How to run it

Questions people ask

Goes well with

SBAR: making the call

I-PASS handoffs

Welcome to the unit

Hand hygiene in-service

Gemba walk

HIPAA refresher

[Your topic]

Open it, make it yours, run it live.

Nurse report sheet

What's in the kit

The follow-up email

How to run it

Questions people ask

Goes well with

SBAR: making the call

I-PASS handoffs

Welcome to the unit

Hand hygiene in-service

Gemba walk

HIPAA refresher

[Your topic]

Open it, make it yours, run it live.