urse leader rounding is a national best practice where inpatient nurse leaders dedicate time to connect daily with patients, caregivers, and teams at the point of care.

This fall, we will begin to implement a standardized nurse leader rounding practice at University of Utah Health. Our leaders will gain valuable insights directly from patients and caregivers, resolve issues in real time, and provide immediate feedback to team members to recognize their compassion and expertise.

Why does it matter?

The evidence-based impact of nurse leader rounding is powerful. For team members, it has been shown to have a direct effect on retention, recruitment, engagement, and staff satisfaction. For patients, rounding has been linked to patient satisfaction and care quality. Nurse leader rounding is part of a triad of patient-centered practices (nurse leader rounding, bedside shift report, and purposeful/hourly rounding) that make it easier for hospitalized patients to understand their care plan, their medications, and what will happen next.

When we talk about being patient-centered, systems thinkers, and engaged experts, nurse leader rounding checks every box. It fosters meaningful connection, deepens our understanding of our patients' experiences, and by sharing what we learn, it can help us improve as a system.

Who will be required to round?

At U of U Health, inpatient nurse leaders from Huntsman Cancer Hospital (HCH), Neilsen Rehab Hospital (NRH), University Hospital (UN), and University Orthopaedic Center (UOC) are required to round.

Leaders are defined as senior nursing directors, nursing directors, nurse managers (NM), clinical nurse coordinators (CNC), charge nurses (CN), and Unit Nursing Professional Development practitioners (NPDP; nurse educators).  

What will be required?

As every leadership role is unique, not all leader requirements are the same:

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How does it work?

There are three steps to nurse leader rounding:

When do we get started?

Leader rounding reflects the diversity of our care settings. Not all patients are the same, which means rounds will look a little different on every unit. In order to create a customized rounding plan, we will onboard nurse managers and directors first.

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Where do I learn more?

Please visit the Nurse Leader Rounding Pulse website for contact information, details about upcoming trainings and more.

Our words and actions are powerful for patients. The lessons our patients can teach us when we really listen are powerful, too. As we begin to round as leaders, collectively, this power is amplified. 

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to exceptional patient care and support of your teams. We will continue to keep you updated as this program progresses.