Effect of Hourly Rounding Among Hurses

Hourly Nursing Rounding Nursing rounding is the schedule or process that ensures a member of staff, either the nurse or the nursing assistant visits the patient's room to offer the needed service to the patient. It is common that during the day, each hour this exercise is repeated and during the night, then after every two hours the patients are visited. Studies have shown that hourly rounding significantly decreases call light use and reduces unit noise levels.

The practice also increases the satisfaction levels of both the patients and the staff members. The hourly rounding is also seen to increase staff productivity as they feel that they have control over the patient care. The hourly visits are also seen to significantly reduce the pressure sores that patients who are not able to turn on their own would suffer and also decreases falls that would otherwise be rampant if the rounds were not hourly and the patients attempted to turn on their own (Leslie L.C.,2010).

Though important, this practice is not implemented as is required and often has challenges from the members of staff as some hours pass without the patients being visited. This paper seeks to outline the facts behind the hourly visit exercise and the importance of the same. It also seeks to bring out the gracility of the issue through statistical presentations.

The result of the lack of hourly rounding in many nursing facilities is the increase in fall cases among patients as they try to reposition themselves, the worsening of the condition of the patients who are seriously sick through the developing of pressure ulcers and also rampant use of the call light. These are factors that contribute to the general dissatisfaction of the patient and also the overworking of the nurses when they have to handle emergencies.

It is therefore important to strategize on the way the hourly rounding can be effectively implemented so as to avoid cases such as above and increase efficiency within the nursing fraternity and increased patient satisfaction in general. PICOT Does hourly rounding by the nurses among the inpatients help reduce the fall cases, pressure ulcers and use of call light during the time the patients are admitted in the hospital? Population focus: The inpatients within a given hospital. Intervention: Hourly rounding. Comparison: lack of hourly rounding by the nurses.

Outcome: reduction of pressure ulcers, falls and use of call light. Time: the timeframe within which the patients are admitted in the hospital. Leslie L.C., (2010). Hourly rounding benefits patients and staff. http://www.americannursetoday.com/from-our-readershourly-rounding-benefits-patients-and-staff/ The article points out how much valued the program are among the staff members and the patients, but as a rebuttal, it portrays how the implementation of the same is wanting.

The article gives the statistical presentation of the adherence to the program and the value it has among the patients and the members of staff. It further suggests the possible improvements that can be made to ensure the program works effectively. Stanford Health Care,(2015). Quality and Safety: Purposeful Rounding. https://stanfordhealthcare.org/health-care-professionals/nursing/quality-safety/purposeful-rounding.html This article focuses more on what should be included or makeup the hourly rounds that the nurses conduct.

It gives the activities that should be included and the measure or the expected results upon the implementation of those activities. It breaks down the hourly visits into specific activities which will act as a good guide to the nurses. Studer Group, (2007). Hourly Rounding Supplement. http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/root/pdfs/nursing/hourly_rounding_supplement-studer_group.pdf The supplement highlights some of the proven facts behind the hourly rounding on both the perspective of the patients as well as of the nurses.

It also gives the implementation levels of the practice and the activities of the leaders of a given hospital to discuss the hourly rounding. Massachusetts General Hospital, (2011). Hourly Safety Rounds Tool Kit. http://www.mghpcs.org/eed_portal/Documents/SafetyRounds_Toolkit.pdf This is a detailed guidelines document to the nurses on how to ensure patient safety on an hourly basis, covering the 7ps of the hourly rounds.

It also links the hourly rounding and the various theories and approaches that are used in nursing with the bid to make it clear and applicable to the nurses. Christine M.M. et.al, (2006). Effects of Nursing Rounds. http://bluescrubbrigade.wikispaces.com/file/view/Nursing+Rounds+-+call+light,+satisfaction,+%26+safety.pdf The article highlights how the hourly rounds can significantly reduce the call light use to the very essential level.

It also highlights the activities that need to be done in order to reduce the patient use of the call light and hence give the nurses enough time to concentrate on the hourly rounds. The article further gives the statistical analysis of the use of the call light and the percentage of the hourly rounding that it takes up. Lynne M. & Shelly B., (2013). Hourly Rounding: So Much Impact in SO Few Minutes. Studer Group.

http://www.uchc.edu/patients/begins_you/docs/ldi/ldi_preso_mahony_hourlyrounding_091913.pdf This is basically a presentation of the findings that were brought forth by a participatory research among 22 hospitals in an attempt to find out the impact of hourly rounding. The participants were drawn from a diverse array of professionals within the medical care hence giving reliable and balanced results on the positive impact of the hourly rounding in improving the service to patients. Nursing Standard, (2012). Hourly Rounding in a High Dependency Unit.

http://journals.rcni.com/doi/full/10.7748/ns2012.10.27.8.35.c9362 The article highlights the applicability of the hourly rounding in a high dependency unit and how this has a positive effect in the handling of such sensitive patients. Apart from the normal or conventional n the general in patient wards, the high dependency patients need extra care during these rounds which re highlighted in this article. AMN Healthcare Education Services, (2012). Hourly Rounding and Fall Prevention: A Winning Strategy.

http://lms.rn.com/getpdf.php/1820.pdf-Main_Session=cb22be0314523b1d80f29689b7e45f72 This is a research-based report that looks into the hourly rounding as a preventive intervention measure that can be taken to reduce the number of fall cases in hospitals among the inpatients. It highlights the cost of patient falls, the impact it has on nursing and the relevance of using the hourly rounding as a preventive measure. Deitrick L., at.al, (2012). Hourly Rounding: Challenges With Implementation of an Evidence-Based Process. Vol. 27, Pp 13-19.

http://www.nursingcenter.com/journalarticle?Article_ID=1265838 This is yet another research-based report which came from a research team conducting interviews as well as observation among practicing nurses. The report highlights the reasons why many nurses still find it hard to integrate the hourly rounding into their nursing routine and the possible measures that they suggest need to be taken to correct this situation. Janet M. & Cherita F., (2010). Hourly Rounding: The 4-P's. MPSC 2010 Annual Conference Solution Submission.

http://www.marylandpatientsafety.org/html/education/solutions/2010/documents/culture/Hourly_Rounding_The_4_Ps.pdf The article highlights the pertinent issues that need to be keenly looked into when implementing the hourly rounding procedure. It further gives charts and tables that are helpful to the nurses in scheduling their hourly rounding as well as a communication strategy and updating.