The aims of this project were to: identify the nature of patient requests using the call bell; determine best practice interventions that could be implemented and sustained to anticipate patients’ needs; and improve patient satisfaction through anticipatory nursing care, and thereby decreasing the need for call bell use. Planning sessions were conducted with the nurse managers, unit-based nurse educators, and nursing staff on three units to develop a tool to categorize reasons for call bell use, methodology, and a time frame for the project. The nursing staff conducted a 24-hour prevalence study to measure and consequently classify baseline call bell use. The most frequent requests were for positioning, pain medication, and assistance with toileting. Interventions developed through staff brainstorming sessions included rounds scheduled every two hours to assess patient needs and the environment, and anticipating patient need for pain medication prior to request. Three additional “cycles” of prevalence study followed by targeted intervention initiation over a 12-month period resulted in a decline in both total call bell use and in “predictable” call bell use. Results of this project provide a foundation for building evidence-based practice to improve current nursing practice, anticipate patient needs and improve patient satisfaction.

See more of An Innovative Process for Work Environment Enhancement: An Analysis of Final Data and Lessons Learned
See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)