Identify one area of nursing research that has improved patient outcomes. State the study and its impact on patient care. How have these findings changed your nursing practice?
The nursing research field continues to grow and it made a significant impact in improving patient care and outcomes. One of the researches in the field of nursing that improved patient outcome is the collaborative efforts of nurses to conduct a more frequent bedside rounds. According to the Washington Hospital Center (2011), the nurses were able to take the initiative of conducting bedside rounds at least twice a week and using a bedside rounding tool that serves as a checklist, they are able to further evaluate the important areas of the needs of each patient and addressing them to deliver more quality of nursing care that they need. This kind of nursing activity improved patient outcomes primarily by identifying the safety risks and addressing them more efficiently and helps nurses to deliver more appropriate care according to the patient’s individual needs.
The same nursing research was also conducted by the nurses from the intensive care unit of the Florida Hospital Celebration Health. A multidisciplinary rounds were conducted by their nursing staff in the ICU and improvement of patient outcomes were reported including 0% of reported IV associated bloodstream infection. Nurses were able to improve their corroborative teamwork that improved the deliver of care to patients as well (Der, 2009).
The bedside round allows the real time checking and evaluation of the patient’s needs and the identification of safety risks and addressing them promptly. It also increases the nurse-patient interaction which helps the patients to effectively communicate their distinct needs and difficulties to nurses that enables the latter to take the appropriate action to help improve their condition. As a consequence of bedside rounding, nurses are able to provide a rapid response that prevents the deterioration of patient conditions.
This nursing research has changed my nursing practice by helping me identify the importance of conducting more frequent rounds in order to increase patient contact and improve my communication with them which is essential in identifying their needs and evaluating their condition more consistently and addressing their needs more promptly. Practicing bedside rounds also improve my professional relationships with other nurses who conduct the same bedside round and this kind of activities allow nurses to share ideas, develop teamwork and make us more efficient in delivering quality patient care while improving patient outcomes with better response to treatment and preventing the exposure of patients to risks.
References:
Der, Y. (2009). Multidisciplinary Rounds in Our ICU: Improved Collaboration and Patient Outcomes. Critical Care Nurse. Volume No. 29. 4:84-83. doi:10.4037/ccn2009792
Washington Hospital Center (2011). 4NE Nursing Bedside Rounds Improve Patient Care. Center eNurse. Volume 2. Retrieved from http://www.whcenter.org/documents/nursing/eNurseIssue036.pdf
