Evaluation of matron ward rounds to enhance patient experience and improve staff morale
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence & Practice    

Evaluation of matron ward rounds to enhance patient experience and improve staff morale

Debbie Mennim Lecturer, Sexual and reproductive health, Faculty of Health, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, England
Charlotte Moen Senior lecturer, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, England

Intentional rounding was introduced in the UK in 2012 to improve direct nursing care. Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust (LWFT) introduced intentional nursing rounds, called comfort rounds, in 2013. These are carried out and documented by nursing staff who check the patients in their care every two hours, particularly in relation to pain management, nutritional needs, hygiene and toilet needs, and overall comfort.

In September 2015, LWFT introduced daily matron ward rounds (MWRs) following a directive from the trust’s chief executive to provide assurance that comfort rounds were completed and that patient feedback was acted on in a timely manner. This article presents findings from an evaluation of the initiative and describes how daily MWRs improve patient experience and staff morale but are resource intensive. Further qualitative research of their effect on staff morale and well-being, as well as patient experience, is recommended.

Nursing Management. 26, 1, 22-25. doi: 10.7748/nm.2018.e1762

Correspondence

DMennim1@uclan.ac.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

Conflict of interest

None declared

Permission

To reuse this article or for information about reprints and permissions, please contact permissions@rcni.com

Write for us

For information about writing for RCNi journals, contact writeforus@rcni.com

For author guidelines, go to rcni.com/writeforus

Want to read more?

Already subscribed? Log in

OR

Unlock full access to RCNi Plus today

Save over 50% on your first 3 months

Your subscription package includes:
  • Unlimited online access to all 10 RCNi Journals and their archives
  • Customisable dashboard featuring 200+ topics
  • RCNi Learning featuring 180+ RCN accredited learning modules
  • RCNi Portfolio to build evidence for revalidation
  • Personalised newsletters tailored to your interests
Subscribe
RCN student member? Try Nursing Standard Student

Alternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days. Buy now

Or