Publication Date
4-16-2025
College
Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing
Department
Nursing, School of
Student Level
Undergraduate
SPARK Category
Research
Faculty Advisor
Linda Wofford
Presentation Type
Article
Summary
Previous research shows that not performing hourly rounding is associated with increased patient falls, worse patient outcomes, decreased patient satisfaction with their hospital stay, and more frequent call bell usage. We chose to focus on implementing hourly rounds on the step-down unit at St. Thomas West in Nashville. The implementation plan includes hosting an educational seminar for staff nurses in which the process and importance of hourly rounding will be discussed. At this time, the charge nurse will also review the incentives and new charting system. We also allocated finances to the IT department to implement a section for hourly rounding in the chart that is mandatory for all nurses to complete each shift. The total budget for our plan is $5350. The implementation timeline is six months, during which time the IT department will add the new section to the chart, and the staff meeting will be planned and attended. Our sustainability plan includes a monthly chart audit, educational seminars every six months, incentive free lunches for nurses who complete their hourly rounds, and an hourly rounding section on the whiteboard in the patients’ room that the nurse is to check off.
Recommended Citation
McGuire, Brigitte A.; Stidham, Jayden; and Schmidt, Emma, "Importance of Nursing Hourly Rounding on a Step-Down Unit to Decrease Falls and Call Bell Usage" (2025). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 235.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/235
