Bedside teaching is viewed as one of the most enriching and effective form of teaching. It provides opportunities to sharpen clinical skills, communication skills, enhance role modeling and professionalism. The Nurse Clinicians Specialty Care in a tertiary hospital initiated a project to improve patient education and staff development through bedside teaching using a structured framework.

Purpose

To explore the effect of clinical teaching nursing rounds.

Methodology

Descriptive cross sectional survey using multiple choice questionnaire and short answer was used for patients after each clinical teaching nursing rounds from October 06 to March 07. The survey for nurses was done in 2 phases (November 06, March 07). Data was analysed using SPSS Window Version 13.0. Descriptive statistics were generated for each question. Chi – Square test or Fisher's exact test was used where appropriate to study the association between each question and clinical teaching. Statistical significance was assumed at p < 0.05.

Results

A total of 20 patients and 125 nurses (phase 1) completed the survey. All patients and majority of nurses favoured clinical teaching. Better understandings of medical and nursing problems rank the highest as the reason for in favour of clinical teaching for patients. Nurses perceived clinical teaching as most beneficial in terms of gaining more knowledge from fellow nurses and specialty care nurses. There were no associations between favoring clinical teaching with years of nursing experience, seniority and participation level.

Conclusion

Clinical teaching nursing rounds enhances patient education and provides nurses the opportunity to gain nursing knowledge through on-site continuous learning using a structured framework.