Task EBT1
Running Head: INTENTIONAL ROUNDING IMPROVES PATIENT SERVICE
Intentional Rounding Improves Patient Satisfaction
EBT1 Task 2 Research Integration
Western Governors University
1
INTENTIONAL ROUNDING IMPROVES PATIENT SERVICE
2
A. Current Practice:
A current nursing practice that is utilized is the review of the patient well-being and vital signs every four hours.
A1. Procedure:
Standard practice is for the attending nurse of the non-critical hospital patient is to perform a review of the patient’s status every four hours via the rounding process. Regretfully, reviewing of patient status every four hours results in long periods of time wherein the patient may need assistance. A patient in need of assistance will rely on using the call light to obtain such assistance. Further, each time the patient utilizes the call light to obtain assistance, the patient is asking for help rather than being asked if he needs help. Consequently, a patient who asks for help is less likely to feel cared for or important.
The practice of 4-hour rounding should be reduced to hourly rounding to allow for review of the 4 P’s (position, pain management, potty needs and the placement of convenient necessities).
The implementation of hourly rounding would allow the attending nurse to evaluate the patient’s condition every hour, thereby allowing more excellent support of the patient’s needs. Intentional or hourly rounding further allows the nurse to be more productive and remain on schedule due to fewer patient requests for assistance. Such support results in patients who feel a greater sense of being cared for, which results in higher patient satisfaction. As explained by Sullivan (2013),
“Hourly rounding has been identified as a practice to increase patient satisfaction, safety, outcomes, and communication” (p. 1).
A2. Review of Current Practice:
Based on initial investigations of the situation the following was determined:
INTENTIONAL ROUNDING IMPROVES PATIENT SERVICE
3
A2a. Basis for
Intentional Rounding Improves Patient Satisfaction
EBT1 Task 2 Research Integration
Western Governors University
1
INTENTIONAL ROUNDING IMPROVES PATIENT SERVICE
2
A. Current Practice:
A current nursing practice that is utilized is the review of the patient well-being and vital signs every four hours.
A1. Procedure:
Standard practice is for the attending nurse of the non-critical hospital patient is to perform a review of the patient’s status every four hours via the rounding process. Regretfully, reviewing of patient status every four hours results in long periods of time wherein the patient may need assistance. A patient in need of assistance will rely on using the call light to obtain such assistance. Further, each time the patient utilizes the call light to obtain assistance, the patient is asking for help rather than being asked if he needs help. Consequently, a patient who asks for help is less likely to feel cared for or important.
The practice of 4-hour rounding should be reduced to hourly rounding to allow for review of the 4 P’s (position, pain management, potty needs and the placement of convenient necessities).
The implementation of hourly rounding would allow the attending nurse to evaluate the patient’s condition every hour, thereby allowing more excellent support of the patient’s needs. Intentional or hourly rounding further allows the nurse to be more productive and remain on schedule due to fewer patient requests for assistance. Such support results in patients who feel a greater sense of being cared for, which results in higher patient satisfaction. As explained by Sullivan (2013),
“Hourly rounding has been identified as a practice to increase patient satisfaction, safety, outcomes, and communication” (p. 1).
A2. Review of Current Practice:
Based on initial investigations of the situation the following was determined:
INTENTIONAL ROUNDING IMPROVES PATIENT SERVICE
3
A2a. Basis for