Alexander Nydza
Hourly Rounding Focusing on Pain Management and Patient Satisfaction

Research

Hourly Rounding Focusing on Pain Management and Patient Satisfaction

Hypothesis

Hourly rounding can improve patient satisfaction because it gives nurses the opportunity to relieve the patients’ needs before they activate the call light system. By doing this, the patient feels cared for and the stress of answering call lights is reduced.

Methodology

Call lights were monitored in 2 East for two weeks. The reason for the call was recorded in a log. Next, hourly rounding was implemented while monitoring of call lights was continued. Patient satisfaction was measured in the amount of reduction of call lights from the first two weeks to the last two weeks based on the belief that when call light usage is low, patients are more satisfied.

Outcomes

By initiating hourly rounding, patient satisfaction increased, as shown by a significant reduction of call lights. After hourly rounding was initiated, the most frequent call changed to accidental call, which shows that most of the patients’ needs were resolved during rounds. Hourly rounding can reduce stress on nurses because each round usually took 10 to 20 minutes. This leaves at least 40 minutes for the nurses to fill out charts, paperwork and tend to other needs before they begin the next round.