As new hospitals launch the Nobl Rounding platform we often encounter questions about the role of charge nurses in hourly patient rounding as well as leader rounding on patients. Here are some different ways to utilize charge nurses, depending on the role they fill within your organization.
Designated charge nurses – one or more individuals whose only role is to serve as charge nurse each shift that they work. This role can be further delineated by those who are “assigned” a case load of patients and those who are “unassigned” to a specific case load but fill in care gaps or fulfill other leadership accountabilities during the shift.
Designated charge nurses may be assigned to consistently leader round on patient rooms to support nurse manager in accomplishing leader rounding goals.
Rotating charge nurses – typically expert nursing staff who are periodically assigned to fill the charge nurse role to cover for scheduled or unexpected days off for a designated charge, or who share the role with other expert nurses. As with designated charge nurses, they may or may not be assigned a case load of patients during their shift as charge nurse. Adding leader rounding duties into the workload of a nurse already tasked with charge nurse duties and a patient load is not recommended. It can result in patient safety issues, nursing dissatisfaction and “hurried” patient rounding that might lead to poor patient satisfaction.
Based on these defined roles, here are some suggestions for how charge nurses can assist with unit rounding.
Role
Hourly Rounding
Leader Rounding on Patients
Designated Charge – Patient Assignment
Completes hourly rounds on their assigned patients or those of other nurses, using the rounding map to support teamwork and on-time rounds.
No expectations of leader rounding on patients
Designated Charge –
No Patient Assignment
Assists with hourly rounds for team members when they are at lunch, admitting a patient or when the rounding map indicates a round is due and staff are tied up.
May be assigned to consistently round on one-third to one-half of the patient rooms to support nurse manager in accomplishing leader rounding goals. Rounds on all patients when the nurse manager has paid time off.
Rotating Charge – Patient Assignment
Completes hourly rounds on their assigned patients or those of other nurses, using the rounding map to support teamwork and on-time rounds.
No expectations of leader rounding on patients
Rotating Charge –
No Patient Assignment
Assists with hourly rounds for team members when they are at lunch, admitting a patient or when the Rounding Map indicates a round is due and staff are tied up.
No expectations of leader rounding on patients
Blog written by Dr.Teresa Anderson, Chief Nursing Officer
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