Rounding is an important job in hospital settings, whereby nurses check in on every patient in their care hourly, ensuring that all patients are stable and comfortable.
This is usually a five point check, often referred to as the 5 Ps of nursing. Most clinical training courses such as those offered by specialists www.tidaltraining.co.uk/clinical-training-courses will cover these in detail, but for now, read on for our guide to the 5 Ps of nursing.
Pain
One of the most important checks for the patient is making sure they’re not in pain, or pain isn’t worsening. Since most of us experience pain differently, it can help to ask the patient to describe the pain on a scale of 1-10.
Personal Hygiene
It’s important to ask patients if they need to use the bathroom, or if they need help to do so. This is an essential part of ensuring your patient is as comfortable as possible.
Position
Some patients may have limited mobility, or may be connected to medical equipment which makes moving difficult. For this reason, check in with your patient if they need assistance to get comfortable, or if they need different pillows or an adjustment of the bed.
Periphery
Check the patient’s immediate environment: can they reach everything they need, such as a glass of water or their telephone?
Pump
The last P refers to medical equipment such as pumps and IV sites, which should be checked for dosage and positioning at least every two hours.