Creation of the nurse leader role resulted in improvement in Hospital Consumer Assessment Provider and Systems (HCAHPS) scores (Hilton, 2014) without the need to hire external staff. However, with this role there may be a need to hire from an external pool of the assigned clinical nurse leader were to leave. Alternatively, there may exist a need to fill the role of the RN that fills the duties of the nurse leader that fills the position. Individuals taking the role of the nurse leader would have to undergo training for this position although an existing BSN could fill the position and perform duties including the care of staff requiring ongoing visits and additional patient care.
According to a study by Ellis (2014), another means solving the problem of nursing quality is the creation of patient rounds that are designed to improve the safety of patents and address needs that would otherwise be addressed by the use of patient call lights. Often nurses are not efficient in the care of patients when they use call lights, and call lights used by patients are not efficient. The use of patient call lights has been associated with a negative impact on patient quality and patient satisfaction. A rounds program, however, can improve patient quality and improve nursing satisfaction. It will not cost any additional salary to the hospital, and does not require that nurses be hired.
Rather, nurses perform rounds based on a rotating schedule worked into their ordinary schedule. Each nurse conducts quality rounds during a designated time during their shift, checking on important aspects of patient care that include patient’s medication, patient needs, and other critical items. This is a better alternative than hiring a patient clinical nurse leader, and one that requires less training. If a nurse happens to be busy, another nurse can rotate their rounds schedule to cover easily.
- Ellis, I. (2014). Hourly nurse rounds help to reduce falls, pressure ulcers, and call light use, and contribute to rise in patient satisfaction. Hourly nurse rounds help to reduce falls, pressure ulcers, ad call light use, and contribute to rise in patient satisfaction. AHRQ Innovations.
- Hilton, N. (2014). Implementing clinical nurse leader role improves core measures performance, patient and physician satisfaction and reduces nurse turnover. Service Delivery Innovation Profile, Implementing Clinical Nurse Leader Role Improves Core Measures Performance, Patient and Physicians Satisfaction and Reduces Nurse Turnover.
- Medicare.gov (2015). Brookdale Hospital Medical Center Survey of Patient Medical Experiences. Medicare.gov. Retrieved from: Go to http://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html
