Proactive rounding: Perspectives and experiences of nurses and midwives working in a large metropolitan hospital

Rounding by the Rapid Response team (RRT) is an integral part of safety and quality care of the deteriorating patient. Rounding enables Intensive Care Units (ICU) liaison nurses to proactively identify deteriorating patients in the general wards and minimize the time spent by general nursing staff to call for assistance.

The study examined nurses' and midwives' experiences of proactive rounding by a RRT/ICU Liaison service, including the impact on workflow and patient care as well as enablers and barriers to utilization of the service.

A mixed method approach was used: an online survey and semi-structured interviews with nurses and midwives in an acute care setting.

52 respondents completed the online survey and 6 participated in a semi-structured interviews. The majority of survey respondents found the service useful and indicated that rounding by the ICU Liaison service improves patient care. Participants also believed that pro-active rounding increases staff confidence and builds rapport when utilizing the ICU Liaison service. Barriers to use of the service included the lack of out of normal business hours support and obtaining prompt support.

Proactive rounding was perceived by nurses and midwives to be beneficial for both themselves and patients, and ensured that deteriorating patients were identified.