Evolving Nursing Grand Rounds for the 21st Century

Jones, Dawndra L.

Monday, 31 October 2011: 1:45 PM

Dawndra L. Jones, RN, MSN
Lorraine M. Brock, RN, MSN
Center for Nursing Excellence and Innovation, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA

Learning Objective 1: Discuss the goals for evolving nursing grand rounds to meet the needs in today’s health care environment.

Learning Objective 2: Identify System Nursing Grand Rounds as a method for leading change among nurses in a widely disseminated global health enterprise.

Purpose: To efficiently communicate the system level clinical and strategic information to a vast number of nurses in diverse locations, UPMC Center for Nursing Excellence and Innovation (CNEI) integrates the familiar nursing grand rounds concept with technological enhancements. UPMC System Nursing Grand Rounds was created to: showcase and share clinical expertise and evidenced based practice, keep nurses informed of new local and national health care trends, explore strategies and positions, and to disseminate research and initiatives. Each presentation provides one contact hour of continuing education whether viewed live or on the web while from work or at home at the nurses’ convenience.

Methods: The system Chief Nurse Executive (CNE) in collaboration with the hospital CNOs’ identify monthly topics based on the system nursing strategic plan and current clinical initiatives. A strategic example is the presentation introducing the new career ladder which was based on Magnet concepts and Relationship Based Care as trends that are shaping the health care environment. A clinical example is a presentation created in response to the system initiative to decrease the use of Foley catheters.

A monthly live presentation is offered at a local facility for nurses and nursing students. These sessions are videotaped and placed on to uLearn, the internal web based education portal. A nurse can access this presentation from any location with internet capabilities, including from home. To earn a contact hour via the web a quiz and evaluation is provided. The sessions are archived and accessible for two years.

Results: From 2009-2010 there were over 2,500 contact hours awarded to nurses for continuing education. Nurses’ attendance and feedback consistently indicates their engagement and appreciation of the topics and process.

Conclusion: UPMC System Nursing Grand Rounds offers a systemic and strategic focus that supplements the individual hospital based nursing grand rounds.

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