Initiative to change ward culture results in better patient care

One of the main features of ward rounds is the professional conversation that occurs between doctors and nurses. Such conversation needs to be perfected to avoid iatrogenic harm and increase efficiency. This article looks at data collected from 146 consultant-led medical ward rounds at a hospital trust using the Caldwell considerative checklist process (Herring et al 2011) to identify the frequency and quality of such conversations. A total of 1,921 patients' reviews were undertaken. A nurse was present during preparatory discussions on 604 occasions (31 per cent) and during bedside review on 1,134 occasions (59 per cent). These data demonstrate an urgent need to change ward cultures to improve the professional conversations between doctors, nurses and patients. By increasing nurse presence as a result of this research patient care and safety has improved at ward level, increasing satisfaction for everyone involved.