Intentional rounding: what is the evidence?

In January 2011 the British Prime Minister called for changes in the way nurses deliver care. Following a number of critical reports, concern had been expressed about the need to ensure essential aspects of nursing care are consistently delivered. One of the Prime Minister’s recommendations is for NHS hospitals to implement hourly nursing rounds, to check on patients and ensure their fundamental care needs are met – an approach related to ‘intentional rounding’ in the United States. Within the United Kingdom some organisations refer to this type of nursing activity as “care rounds” or “comfort rounds”. In this Policy Plus we examine different approaches to intentional rounding and review available evidence.