Nursing care
DAR charting: the focus note template, a filled example and the errors that get flagged
Written and reviewed by Nicole Ramirez, BSN, RN, CMSRN · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
DAR stands for Data, Action and Response. It is a focus charting format: each note centers on one concern, such as pain or a fall, then records the assessment data, the nursing actions taken, and how the client responded. FDAR writes the Focus as its own first line. The Response is the part students most often leave out.
What D, A and R mean, line by line
The OpenRN Nursing Fundamentals chapter on documentation describes focused DAR notes in three parts. Data is information gathered in the assessment, including vital signs and exam findings. Action is the nursing care planned and given for that focused problem. Response is how the client reacted and whether the care worked.
| Part | What to write | Example phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Focus (F) | One client concern or event in nursing terms, not the medical diagnosis | Acute pain, right hip incision |
| Data (D) | Subjective and objective findings that support the focus, with times | Rates pain 7 of 10, guarding right hip |
| Action (A) | What the nurse did, including notifications and teaching | Repositioned with pillow support; ordered analgesic given |
| Response (R) | Measured result after the action, with the time it was checked | Rates pain 3 of 10 at reassessment, resting quietly |
Many programs call the format FDAR, with the Focus as a heading. The focus is usually a nursing problem, a change in condition or a significant event. It should not simply repeat the admitting diagnosis, because the note follows what the nurse found and did, not the disease.
A completed FDAR note for a hypothetical post-op client
Practice scenario, not a real chart: a client on day one after hip surgery calls at 1400 with pain. Times and findings are invented to show structure; facility policy decides what must be charted and when, and the OpenRN pain chapter describes following up within an hour when pain exceeds the client's goal.
| Part | Entry |
|---|---|
| F | Acute pain, right hip surgical site |
| D | 1400: States pain 7 of 10, aching, worse with movement; comfort goal 3 of 10. Grimacing and guarding right hip. Dressing dry and intact. |
| A | 1405: Ordered oral analgesic given per MAR. Repositioned with pillow between knees. Ice pack applied over dressing per order. Call light in reach. |
| R | 1500: Rates pain 3 of 10, resting with eyes closed, states the change in position helped. Goal met. |
Every line is timed, and the Response reuses the same 0 to 10 scale as the Data line so the change can be compared. Nothing judges the client. OpenRN states that documentation should be objective and factual and must carry the date, time and signature of the person writing it.
How DAR differs from SOAPIE, narrative notes and charting by exception
DAR is shorter than SOAPIE, which OpenRN lays out in six parts: subjective, objective, assessment, plan, interventions and evaluation. In DAR, subjective and objective findings merge into Data, and the nurse's judgment sits in the Focus. Narrative notes instead tell the whole shift in time order, and charting by exception records only findings that differ from a list of normals.
On a test item, structure is the clue. A note that opens with a concern heading and ends with the client's measured reaction is focus charting. A note that walks through the shift hour by hour is narrative. A flowsheet with brief comments only on abnormal findings is charting by exception, which has its own page.
Errors instructors flag in DAR notes
A missing Response tops the list. A note that stops at the action shows the nurse did something but not whether it worked, so nobody can judge the plan. Write the Response after you reassess, with the time, instead of leaving the R blank or writing a promise such as will reassess.
Other flagged errors: opinions in the Data line, such as client is dramatic, in place of quotes and observed behavior; actions charted before they happen; and abbreviations that are not on the approved list. OpenRN repeats the legal rule that care not documented is treated as care not done, so a vague note can count against the nurse.
Sources and further reading
2.5: Documentation (Nursing Fundamentals, OpenRN). Definitions of focused DAR notes (data, action, response), SOAPIE parts, narrative notes and charting by exception; documentation must be objective with date, time and signature; if it was not documented it was not done; avoiding abbreviations.
11.3: Pain Assessment Methods (Nursing Fundamentals, OpenRN). 0 to 10 pain rating scale; following up within 1 hour when pain exceeds the client's comfort-function goal.
The next step on this is the same as on everything else here: answer questions and read the rationales. Our fundamentals practice questions are the closest set to what this page covers.
Common questions
What does DAR stand for in nursing?
Data, Action, Response. Data is the assessment information, Action is the nursing care given for the focused problem, and Response is how the client reacted and whether the care was effective. It is a focus charting format.
What is FDAR charting?
FDAR is DAR with the Focus written as its own first line. The focus names the one concern the note addresses, such as acute pain, a fall or new confusion, so the reader knows what the data, action and response refer to.
How do you write a DAR note?
Pick one focus, then chart the findings that support it with times, the nursing actions you took including any notification, and the client's measured response after reassessment. Keep it objective, use approved abbreviations only, and sign, date and time the entry.
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