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Learning Objective 1: describe the patient’s perceptions and experiences prior to and following implementation of new handoff communication practice.
Learning Objective 2: discuss strategies to facilitate the implementation of partnership rounding as an evidence based practice improvement.
Methods: Surveys were distributed to patients at start, three (3) and six (6) months after the implementation of the rounding process. Patients were asked to rate their level of agreement on 21 statements regarding the bedside reports characterized by patient centeredness, privacy, intelligibility of speech and use of time. Reliable and valid instruments were used in the study.
Results: Results were compiled from 300 patients with a 73% response rate. 95% of patients reported experiencing a bedside report at least once during their hospitalization. The majority of patients reported understanding the purpose of the report (M=1.34, SD=.602) and agreed that the report’s main function was to share information with patients and nurses (N=116, 60.4%). Patients rated the ability to ask questions (41.5%), receiving information about their care (40.5%) and the interaction with nurses (41%) as the top three things they felt they received during the report. Mean change in perception of the nature of report across the three testing periods showed significant differences in regards to time (p=.002) and privacy (p=.039). Unfavorable response to privacy decreased slightly at 3 months and again at 6 months resulting in an overall mean change of -.49 (M=3.34, SD=.524). There was low variation between mean scores of intelligibility of speech and patient centeredness as responses were consistently favorable.
Conclusion: The findings clearly demonstrated positive changes in patients' perceptions as partnership rounding evolved and further facilitated its implementation as an evidence based practice improvement for the nursing staff.