Hourly Rounding for

Improved Patient Care

How would you like to have
Fewer call light interruptions in your day

More free time for your other tasks

More control over your daily schedule

Happier, more satisfied patients

A quieter unit throughout the day

Significant reduction in patient falls

Try Hourly Rounding!

How Does Hourly Rounding Work?
A member of staff visits each patient
Hourly from 6 a.m. till 10 p.m.
Every two hours between 10 p.m. and 6
a.m.
Nurses and nursing assistants alternate
visits
Patients’ basic needs are met all at once, not
via multiple call lights
Discussion
What were your first impressions of the article,
“Putting Hourly Rounds into Practice”?
Did anything about this article surprise you?
Was there anything the author described that you
would do differently?
What ideas would you suggest to make hourly
rounding more successful in your unit?
What Happens During a Round?

3 P’s 4 R’s
 Rx - Provide any needed
Pain - Evaluate pain medication (RN visits only).
level.  Reach – Are all the patient’s
Position - Help the needs (call light, phone,
reading material, etc.)
patient get comfortable. within easy reach?
Personal needs - Offer  Respond to questions. Ask
help using the toilet. if there anything else the
patient needs.
 Reassure - Express care and
concern. Let the patient
know at what time the next
rounding visit will occur.
What Happens After A Round?
 If the patient is asleep, leave a “visit
card” on the table.
 On the Record of Hourly Rounds that is
posted in the patient’s room, record
your name and the time of your visit.
 On the Hourly Rounding Log, which is
kept by the staff, record the promised
return time as well as the goals for the
next visit.
Why is Hourly Rounding Effective?
Lets your patients know they are not alone
Builds your patients’ trust in you
Lets your patients know what to expect
Greatly reduces call light use, improving your
efficiency
Reduces the distance you have to travel back and
forth to your patients’ rooms
What Evidence Shows that Hourly
Rounding Works?
Research on hourly rounding in 14 hospitals* showed:
9-point sustained increase in patient satisfaction overall
score
52% reduction in patient falls

37% reduction in call light use

14% decline in skin breakdowns

In addition, one hospital measured a 20% reduction in

the distance walked each day by the nursing staff
Implementation Kit for Rounding
Record of Hourly Rounds
Hourly Rounding I & O sheet
Hourly Rounding Log
Visit card
Statement of commitment
 Rounding Initial Sheet

This sheet is posted

daily beside each
patient’s bed.
Hourly Rounding I & O Sheet

This sheet is
used to record
the patients
intakes and
outtakes hourly
 Hourly Rounding Log

The rounding log is kept at the nursing station or on the nurse’s

clipboard. It improves communication between staff members.
 Visit Card

The nursing staff

member leaves a
visit card on the
table if the patient is
sleeping
 Statement of Commitment

After they have

been trained, all
staff members will
make a written
commitment to the
success of hourly
rounding.