Question

The nurse wants to anticipate patient needs in order to increase patient satisfaction and decrease the use of call bells in the assigned section. What actions can be taken to achieve this?

1) Tell patients to turn on their call bells if they need something.
2) Perform hourly rounding on each patient.
3) Check on the patient every 2 to 3 hours.
4) Check on the patient only when medication needs to be administered.

Answer 1

Hourly rounding by the nurse is an effective strategy to anticipate patient needs, enhancing satisfaction and reducing reliance on call bells by providing timely and regular checks, thus ensuring a more attentive and personalized care experience.

Step-by-step explanation:

To anticipate patient needs and thus increase patient satisfaction while decreasing the use of call bells, the nurse should opt to perform hourly rounding on each patient. This proactive approach involves checking on the patient's comfort, offering assistance with mobility, addressing personal needs, and ensuring necessary items are within reach. Compared to the other options, hourly rounding is the best strategy because it provides regular and timely checks without waiting for the patient to express a need or conducting checks infrequently.

Engaging in hourly rounding helps in building trust and ensures that the patient's needs are anticipated and met promptly. When healthcare providers make regular checks, it can lead to a better understanding of the patient’s individual needs, which contributes to a more personalized care experience and potentially reduces the frequency of call bells. Clear communication with the patient about what to expect in terms of when they will be checked on can also alleviate anxiety and make them feel more secure and attended to.