General Nursing (RGN)
PREPARATION FOR WARD ROUNDS
Ward rounds is an organized review of in-patients by the health care team members. It is to discuss, make decisions and assign responsibilities to various practitioners in relation to the management of patients’ condition. The nurse/midwife has the responsibility to ensure that the needed gadgets or devices are readily available for the activity. The nurse/midwife ensures that accurate documentation is done.
Purpose
- Enhance effective communication among health team members
- Provide plan of care for patients
- Keep patients informed about progress of care
- Serve as teaching and learning experience for staff and interns
Indications
- Planned or routine ward round
- Multidisciplinary review of admitted patients
- Review of patients with changing or complex clinical needs
- Ad hoc or emergency clinical review
Equipment
- A trolley containing the following:
- Top shelf
- Adequate supply of tablet for documentation or the following stationery:
- Patient's Medical Records
- Nurse's changes book
- Continuation sheet
- Treatment sheet
- Investigative request forms e.g. X'ray, laboratory
- Prescription form
- Stapler with pins
Procedure steps
- Ensure the ward and its annexes are clean
- Ensure all patients and visitors are in bed and out of the ward respectively
- Conduct charge nurse's round, note down concerns and complaints of patients
- Classify patients according to their needs or depending on the protocol of the unit
- Ensure all reports are duly filed and records are up to date
- Arrange patient's medical records in the correct sequence for the rounds
- Facilitate rounds, present patients' problems, concerns and progress
- Assist when doctor is examining the patients
- Give patients opportunity to ask questions
- Provide appropriate answers to patients' questions
- Record all changes, directives and tasks assigned in appropriate documents
- Ensure patient's notes are returned to their proper place on the rack after the procedure
Precautions
- Maintain patient privacy, dignity and confidentiality during the ward round
- Use appropriate standard precautions and personal protective equipment where indicated
- Avoid discussing confidential patient information where unauthorized persons can hear
- Ensure patient records are complete and available before the round
- Record clinical decisions, directives and assigned responsibilities accurately
- Clarify unclear instructions before implementing them according to facility policy
- Do not leave patient records unattended or accessible to unauthorized persons
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
Open Component Task app