Open Rounds
"You Belong With Me"
"You Belong With Me"
The first thing you should do when entering the patient’s room.
What is: Use key words to reduce anxiety, introduce yourself, and explain the purpose of the round.
What should you check while the patient is sleeping?
IV site, respiratory effort, room environment.
Your patient is off the unit. What can you still do for the round?
Check room readiness, supplies, review latest vitals.
What documentation confirms a completed round?
Rounding log or EHR timestamp/documentation.
“You belong with me”—what simple gesture reinforces belonging during a round?
Greeting by name, eye contact, adjusting their blanket, asking if they need anything else.
What should you always ask about, even if the patient hasn’t mentioned it?
What are: Potty needs; ask if they need to use the restroom.
A patient refuses an assessment. What should you do?
Document refusal, offer alternate time, notify provider.
There’s no PPE in an isolation room. Now what?
Retrieve PPE and return, or round on another patient while waiting.
What’s the expected rounding frequency for med-surg patients?
Every hour during waking hours.
We never go out of style”—what element of rounding is always relevant, no matter how busy the unit is?
Patient safety and environmental checks; call light in reach.
When adjusting a patient’s position, what should you consider?
Comfort, alignment, fall risk, and pressure point checks.
A new med was started 1 hour ago. What do you assess?
Side effects, effectiveness, therapeutic response.
A behavioral incident requires your help. How do you manage your round?
Prioritize safety, communicate delay, complete round ASAP
Who’s ultimately responsible for hourly rounding?
The patient’s assigned RN, though teamwork is encouraged.
"Shake it off”—you just left a tense situation. How do you bring calm presence to your next round?
Pause, center yourself, use positive tone, and stay focused on the new patient.
What are non-pharmacologic ways to address pain?
Ice/heat, repositioning, adjusting light/noise, closing the door
Another nurse asks for help with a fall. What’s your priority?
Assist as needed, then resume rounds promptly.
A sterile procedure is underway in the shared room. What can be done
Perform environmental checks outside curtain, return post-procedure.
What do you do if you round late?
A: Complete it ASAP, document actual time, and explain reason if necessary.
“This is me trying”—a patient seems withdrawn. How can your round build trust?
Ask open-ended questions, be present, use empathy, maintain consistency.
What items should always be within the patient’s reach?
Glasses, dentures, call light, cell phone, TV remote.
A family member interrupts to demand updates. How do you respond?
Acknowledge their concern and redirect to the provider’s update schedule.
A physician stops you with a question mid-round. How do you proceed?
Briefly respond, prioritize rounding, and return to discussion after.
What are two examples of good documentation during a purposeful round?
Pain reassessment noted in flowsheet; environmental check box completed in EHR.
"The 1”—you have 1 minute for this round. What must you do to make it purposeful?
Prioritize safety, check pain and position, mark board, reassure patient.