Hourly Nursing Rounding: Improving Patient Satisfaction
This paper examines hourly nursing rounding as a proactive, evidence-based nursing intervention designed to enhance patient satisfaction and improve clinical outcomes in a healthcare facility. The paper outlines the process of obtaining organizational approval, describes the current problems—including patient falls, pressure ulcers, and excessive call light use stemming from the absence of a structured rounding framework—and proposes intentional hourly rounding as the solution. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, the paper presents a rationale for the proposed change, details implementation logistics including staff training and resource requirements, and emphasizes the importance of stakeholder collaboration throughout the change process.
- Introduction: Overview of hourly rounding as evidence-based intervention
- Method of Obtaining Necessary Approval: Leadership discussions and IRB approval process
- Description of Current Problem: Falls, ulcers, and call light overuse from poor rounding
- Explanation of Proposed Solution: Structured hourly rounding framework and its benefits
- Rationale and Evidence for Change: Literature support and cost-effectiveness of rounding
- Implementation Logistics: Training, resources, and cost considerations for rollout
- Conclusion: Summary of solution and stakeholder collaboration needs
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What makes this paper effective
- Clearly connects the identified organizational problem (falls, ulcers, call light overuse) to the proposed solution, establishing a logical cause-and-effect argument throughout.
- Grounds every major claim in peer-reviewed sources, demonstrating appropriate use of evidence-based practice reasoning rather than opinion alone.
- Moves systematically from problem identification through stakeholder approval, solution rationale, and implementation planning — mirroring a real-world change management process.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates applied synthesis of literature review findings into a practical implementation proposal. Rather than simply summarizing research, the author uses cited evidence to justify each stage of the plan — approval, solution selection, and logistics — showing how academic evidence translates into clinical decision-making.
Structure breakdown
The paper follows a structured problem-solution format across seven sections: an introduction establishing the intervention's value, an approval-process section, a problem description, a detailed solution explanation, a rationale grounded in literature, an implementation logistics section covering resources and costs, and a brief integrative conclusion. This mirrors standard evidence-based practice proposal formats used in nursing and healthcare administration programs.
Introduction
Hourly nursing rounding is regarded as one of the most suitable means for enhancing patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. This process can be described as a proactive, systematic, nurse-centered, evidence-based intervention designed to predict and address the various needs of hospitalized patients. There is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that effective hourly nursing rounding can enhance patient safety, promote team communication, and increase the capability of staff to deliver efficient patient care. Accordingly, this approach is a suitable method to help reduce falls, prevent pressure ulcers, and decrease call light use — all of which contribute to enhanced patient satisfaction through evidence-based practice. Adopting this method in the organization to improve patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes requires the development of a comprehensive implementation plan and participation from all key stakeholders.
Method of Obtaining Necessary Approval
Adopting hourly nursing rounding in the healthcare facility to enhance patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes requires obtaining necessary approval and support from the organization's leadership and fellow staff. The process of obtaining approval and support depends on the evidence within the organization regarding the need for a new approach to improving patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Given the existing circumstances in the organization, the evidence is strong and the environment is increasingly open to change. Therefore, facilitating this change process would be relatively less demanding (Brosey & March, 2014, p. 2).
The method used for obtaining necessary approvals and support from the organization's leadership involved holding discussions with the leadership team about current best practices and the positive impacts of hourly nursing rounding. These discussions were held during an institutional review board meeting that examined current practices in the organization's environment. The meeting also focused on identifying an appropriate framework that would contribute to enhanced patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes through evidence-based practices. In essence, the main agenda of the institutional review board meeting was to examine context and environment, review available evidence, and determine a suitable facilitation framework. Following these discussions, the organization's leadership provided the necessary approval for this evidence-based practice project.
With regard to obtaining necessary approval and support from fellow staff, the facilitation method involved using a framework through which staff were enabled and empowered to take control of their learning and change process (Brosey & March, 2014, p. 2). Discussions were also held with fellow staff about current best practices and the positive impact of this change process. These discussions were crucial in encouraging and empowering staff to become active in decision-making and in embracing the implementation plan of the proposed project.
References
Brosey, L. A., & March, K. S. (2014, September 16). Effectiveness of structured hourly nurse rounding on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 00(00), 1–7.
Forde, J. C. (2014, April 9). Intentional rounding: A review of the literature. Nursing Standard, 38(32), 37–42.
Negarandeh, R., Bahabadi, A. H., & Mamaghani, J. A. (2014, December). Impact of regular nursing rounds on patient satisfaction with nursing care. Asian Nursing Research, 8(4), 282–285.
Timothy, H. (2015, June 2). Hourly rounding is an effective patient safety strategy. Retrieved from American Sentinel University website: http://www.americansentinel.edu/blog/2015/06/02/hourly-rounding-is-an-effective-patient-safety-strategy/
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