Nursing grand rounds as a medium for the continuing education of nurses

Grand rounds are an educational technique used by the medical profession, yet only sporadically used in nursing. When grand round are employed, knowledge can be disseminated on a consistent basis. No literature was found detailing the effectiveness and value of such programs. This article describes a small pilot study that assessed the effect on knowledge and the perceived value of a nursing grand rounds (NGR) format. To measure these two concepts, those who attended the inaugural NGR presentation were given a posttest and an assessment survey 1 year after the presentation. The posttest focused on key concepts presented, and the survey rated perceived value and knowledge on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Results demonstrated positive knowledge acquisition and a high perceived value. This assessment review lends support to the use of institutional NGR as a means of continuing education and professional advancement.