Structured Clinical Communication in Multidisciplinary Surgical Teams: A Narrative Review of SBAR, TeamSTEPPS, and Physician–Nurse Collaboration

Background/Objectives: Reliable physician–nurse communication is essential throughout the perioperative pathway, yet information exchange may be compromised by hierarchy, fragmented workflows, and unclear responsibilities. This narrative review critically examines evidence on SBAR and TeamSTEPPS in multidisciplinary surgical teams, emphasizing nursing leadership, implementation, and the distinction between communication improvements and patient outcomes. Methods: Targeted PubMed searches and supplementary scholarly web searches, updated on 8 September 2026, informed purposive selection of empirical studies, existing reviews, methodological publications, and institutional guidance. Surgical and perioperative evidence was prioritized; findings from other settings were considered for their contextual relevance. Manuscript preparation was informed by SANRA. Evidence was synthesized qualitatively, considering study design, implementation fidelity, professional participation, outcome measurement, and sustainability. Results: Structured communication interventions generally favored information completeness, staff perceptions, and selected teamwork behaviors. Evidence for sustained reductions in postoperative morbidity or mortality was less consistent and frequently derived from uncontrolled or multicomponent interventions. SBAR implementation fidelity varied, while Team-STEPPS outcomes depended on local adaptation, reinforcement, and professional engagement. Hierarchical relationships, workload, and limited opportunities to speak up complicated implementation. The synthesis informed a conceptual surgical framework linking SBAR, an established TeamSTEPPS component, with reciprocal acknowledgement, agreed action, identified responsibility, and feedback. This framework has not undergone empirical validation. Conclusions: Structured communication in surgical care requires organizational support that enables information to prompt coordinated clinical action. Nursing leadership and active medical participation are central implementation considerations. Prospective evaluation should distinguish implementation fidelity, observed collaborative behaviors, care processes, and patient outcomes, while assessing workload and sustainability.