Hourly rounding... I have the time

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I'm fine with the hourly rounding thing. Actually think it is a good idea and honestly has saved me from annoyance a few times from pts that had said I hadn't been in the room. All my manager had to do was look at the rounding sheet and see my initials and times I had been in the room.

What really is bugging me is how far the hospital has taken this. Every nurse in the hospital has been tested, with actual pts and management watching us. We have a script we have to follow and and have to hit every point... such as when introducing ourselves we have to "build ourselves up" ..."I have been a nurse for __ yrs, I am a certified tele nurse", etc and build up our co-workers or other departments... "Jane is your PCT today...she is excellent!" We also have to ask EVERY time if they need to use the washroom. No exceptions. Even if the pt is independent. The list goes on.

Mgmt is actually asking the pts if we are going through the whole stupid script everytime we go in the room, and we are getting written up if the pt says no. It takes about 5 min to go through it properly and that is if the pt doesn't ask for anything.

I really didn't need this to ensure I see my pts... I am sick of feeling like I am being baby-sat or that they don't trust us to do our freakin job. There are so many other things that mgmt need to spend their time on that could actually make some difference to their staff and pts. An Rn or PCT was already in each room hourly (at very least) without this craziness. They think it is going to cut down on call-lights, but fail to realize that most call-lights are from pts that are overly needy, confused or the few that are just plain jerks and like to make us run around. Mgmt also thinks this will raise our scores... and have gone overboard with this instead of fixing the actual problems.

I am sorry this is so long. I am just so annoyed with the stupidity of mgmt in the hospitals.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

As a patient that would drive me insane! Sounds too much like the insincere "WELCOME TO ________" that you get walking into some restaurants.

Please don't waste your energy welcoming me, just give me good care.

Has anyone done a survey of the patients to see what THEY think about this insanity??

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

Blech! :banghead: I recognize those regurgitated phrases from Joint Commission.

"What more can I do for you, I have the time?"

"We want you to have EXCELLENT service while you are here"

"We strive for 5"

Sorry, I do not have an answer, just sympathy.

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Specializes in floor to ICU.
As a patient that would drive me insane! Sounds too much like the insincere "WELCOME TO ________" that you get walking into some restaurants.

lol or an automotive place. 'Thank you for calling XX , this is (blank), home of the 5 minute tire rotation and 15 minute lube change. how may I be of service for you today?'

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If I were sick, or in pain (and why else would I be in hospital?) this song and dance would cause a bedpan or something to come flying at the person who came through the door with the soft shoes and cane. Might just as well add a cane and top hat.:monkeydance:

Hard to believe that management can be that far removed from the patients we serve.:twocents:

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Blech! :banghead: I recognize those regurgitated phrases from Joint Commission.

Sorry, I do not have an answer, just sympathy.

As much as I agree that The Joint Commission often goes overboard with their recommendations and requirements, we can't blame this one on them.

This comes from CMS (Medicare) who is basing our reimbursement on (among other things) Patient Satisfaction Scores from HCAHPS.

Press Ganey, Gallup, etc have convinced hospital leadership nationwide that the use of "key words and phrases" will improve patient satisfaction scores, thus increase reimbursement....

I personally think the use of "key words and phrases" is robotic and ridiculous AND I would go nuts if I were a patient and somebody was constantly coming in and out of my room telling me what good care I was getting. AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH

I'm with you... no answers, just sympathy.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

Imagine what the patients think when every nurse who cares for them says the exact same thing. We have been handed a card to cary with us in case we need to refresh on what we need to say. I think its rediculous.

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Specializes in tele, oncology.

Personally, I would find it insulting if every person who came into my room repeated the same thing over and over again. What, do they think I wouldn't notice it was a script? Makes it seem too assembly line. They tried this on our floor, we laughed in manager's face (but we let her know we knew where it was coming from, namely higher ups), and absolutely refused to do it.

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Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

I know what you mean! My problem is I loath falsehoods (or downright lying to my pts, if you will). I will not tell them they're going to get better if they're not or that I'm giving them their medicine if family wants them to eat. Or that I have the time, when I'm making rounds, even tho' I wish it were true. The truth would be that we're very busy but we're making time, to be pro-active, because it's very important to monitor my pts often-plus easier to anticipate a need than to end up calling a doc, or cleaning up a mess! (But that's TMI for them, in any case!)

As for scripting, I feel a gut-level need to remain genuine with my patients and don't find this to have any negative effect on my practice. (I can just see it; I WOULD HAVE had the time- if I didn't have to follow this stupid script to the word...):twocents:

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Ohhh...sounds like your facility has gotten The Studer Group on board.

http://www.studergroupmedia.com/WRIHC/presentations/hardwiring_inpatient_hourly_rounding_self_regional_healthcare_conner_0010.pdf

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Specializes in SICU.

My mom is a manager in a cardiac progressive unit and they have the Nursing assistants do hourly rounding, not the nurses. It is too heavy a unit as it is, and the nurses don't have that kind of time to get every cup of water and put pts on the bedpan etc. (not that they shouldn't if asked of course, but you get my drift) That all falls within the realm of a nursing assistants scope. Our hospital did roll out a somewhat scripted intro system that requires a certain intro and a written goal list in the room. RHOCC is the program/system our institution uses. I work ICU, so I cant really comment from my personal perspective on hourly rounding because I live in my patients rooms, but the patient satisfaction scores have improved on my moms unit and the nurses like it because their patients are more content for the most part. Maybe you could make that suggestion to your manager.

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Yup... that is exactly what we are to use.

Just drives me crazy. Where is a facility that actually have mgmt/ceo that come up with any improvement on their own, or that see the root cause of real issues???? What do they pay for this, umm....stuff, anyway?? I'm sure I could come up with more productive ways to spend it.

:anpom: I feel like they want cheerleaders :anpom:instead of :nurse::nurse::nurse: !!

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