ROUNDING ON PATIENTS

Rounding On Patients



Rounding On Patients

Introduction

Routine purposeful rounding and nurse time at the bedside are significant aspects of the nursing profession, both of which were begun by the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.

In an era where health care transparency is evolving, patient satisfaction and patient safety are garnering greater and greater attention. How can nurses keep patients satisfied and ensure safety? Grounded in nursing's past, routine determined rounding is used once again to increase patient satisfaction scores and decrease such things as patient falls (Meade & Ketelsen, 2006).

Not only does hourly rounding make intuitive sense to consumers and healthcare professionals alike, it is indisputably evidence- based best practice. After extensive staff training and phased implementation strategies, many organizations are doing an impeccable job of hourly rounding and are enjoying the dramatic and sustainable impact on patient satisfaction, patient safety and employee satisfaction.

Discussion

Hourly rounding does not achieve its potential unless the caregiver becomes fully present to the patient. The quality of the interaction makes or breaks its effectiveness. I saw people whose approach to rounding was to poke their head in the door and from the doorway ask, “Need anything?” and then check off that they rounded on that patient. They do not approach the patient, greet them warmly, tune in, become present to the patient and then follow their question protocol.

Hourly rounding has eight components that integrate to ensure that the patient is receiving the care that they need, and most important, the care they feel that they deserve. First, the nurse uses key words and/or actions to introduce themselves, their skill set, and their experience. The word “round” is used, because this is a word that is familiar to most people, and will help frame the context of the interaction.

Second, the nurse performs any scheduled tasks ...