Exploring Practices of Bedside Shift Report and Hourly Rounding. Is There an Impact on Patient Falls?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE 

To describe the relationship of inpatient falls to bedside shift report (BSR) and hourly rounding (HR).

BACKGROUND 

Falls are a major healthcare concern. Although measures such as BSR and HR are reported to reduce falls, studies are often based on self-reported data related to nurse compliance with protocols for HR and bedside report.

METHODS 

Observational data were collected on nursing tasks, including BSR and HR.

RESULTS 

Nine thousand six hundred ninety-three observations were recorded on 11 units at 4 hospitals over 281 shifts. Falls were associated with shift and day of the week but not BSR, HR, or the frequency of encounters with the patient. The regression model included frequency with patient, shift, day of week, and HR.

CONCLUSIONS 

Increased nurse frequency with patient may signal increased fall risks. Bedside shift report and HR may require robust and sustained interventions to provide lasting effects.