The SBAR (situation, background, assessment, recommendation) communication tool has been implemented in an effort to improve nurse–physician communication, particularly by telephone. For this simulation study, 20 nurse–physician pairs were enrolled and the nurse in each pair was randomized to receive six written clinical scenarios to convey to the physician (three using the SBAR format, three in the usual format). Investigators found that relevant information was often not communicated by the nurse nor elicited by physicians, and use of SBAR did not improve communication.