Patient Satisfaction & Experience

Want Happier Patients? Execute the 4p's then add the 5th & 6th P's!

Enhance patient satisfaction with the 4, 5, and 6 Ps of purposeful rounding. Improve safety, reduce falls, and boost patient trust through proactive care.


Purposeful rounding plays a key role in enhancing patient care and safety. By proactively addressing patient needs at regular intervals, we can prevent complications, reduce fall risks, and improve overall patient satisfaction. The 4 Ps, 5 Ps, and 6 Ps frameworks offer structured approaches that focus on crucial components like pain management, positioning, and ensuring personal needs are met. 

To understand how the 4 Ps, 5 Ps, and 6 Ps frameworks can guide you in delivering consistent, high-quality care, let’s explore why they are essential for purposeful rounding practices in healthcare.

Here is your guide to enhancing patient satisfaction with strategic hourly rounding nursing checklists.

What Is Purposeful Rounding?

Purposeful rounding is a systematic practice in which nurses check on patients at regular intervals, addressing their needs before they escalate into problems. It's a proactive approach designed to enhance patient safety and satisfaction. The use of "Ps" in nursing offers a simple yet effective framework for prioritizing patient care during rounds, making this approach a cornerstone of modern healthcare.

What Are the 4 Ps?

The 4 Ps of nursing are essential for conducting thorough and effective patient rounds. Each "P" helps nurses focus on the patient's most pressing needs:

  1. PAIN: Is the patient experiencing pain? This is the time to assess pain levels and manage pain appropriately.

  2. POTTY Does the patient need help using the bathroom or a bedpan? Preventing falls related to bathroom needs is crucial.

  3. POSITION: Is the patient in a comfortable and safe position? Regular repositioning can help prevent bedsores and other complications.

  4. PERIPHERY (Personal Needs): This includes checking whether the patient has everything they need within reach, such as water, a call button, or a phone.

By incorporating these 4 Ps, nurses can ensure that critical aspects of care are consistently addressed, reducing the likelihood of complications and improving patient satisfaction.


 

Is your hospital struggling with consistent rounding?

Without the right system, purposeful rounding fades over time. After 15+ years in the healthcare industry, I've seen this frustration countless times—putting in the effort, only to watch it unravel and start over again.

At Readiness Rounds, our platform helps you stay on track, improve patient outcomes, and boost satisfaction.

Let’s connect and find a customized solution that works for you.

👉 Click HERE to schedule a chat.


 

Expanding to the 5th P - PUMP

The 5 Ps of nursing assessment builds on the original 4 Ps by adding a fifth component that further enhances patient care during purposeful rounding. This additional "P" can vary depending on the healthcare setting but often includes:

5. Pump: Refers to the intravenous (IV) pump or any other medical equipment in use. Routine check that the equipment is functioning correctly.

This added "P" reflects the increasing role of medical technology in patient care, and by including it in their rounding practices, nurses can reduce the risk of equipment-related complications.

The 6th P - PROMISE 

Consider enhancing  your  purposeful rounding and patient care framework by introducing a sixth "P," creating in the 6 Ps of nurse rounding. This includes:

6. Promise: Informing the patient when to expect your return.

This focus on communication fosters a trusting relationship between nurses and patients, improving patient experience by ensuring that they feel heard and cared for.

Why Purposeful Rounding Matters for Patient Experience

Purposeful rounding has been proven to reduce :

 Call Bell Use

Fall Incidents   & 

Significantly improve patient satisfaction scores.

By addressing patient needs on an routine basis, staff prevent small issues from becoming major problems, ultimately creating a safer and more comfortable environment. The 4, 5, and 6 Ps frameworks provide a structured approach that makes it easier for nurses to perform these rounds efficiently and consistently.

It Works

A 2020 study by Goldsack et al. found that nurse-led proactive rounding led to notable improvements in both patient safety and satisfaction, showcasing the real-world value of consistent rounding practices (Goldsack, Robinson, & Kudlak, 2020). Similarly, Thomas et al. (2021) emphasized in their systematic review that purposeful rounding can be directly linked to a reduction in patient falls and an increase in patient satisfaction scores.

The Challenges of Sustaining Purposeful Rounding

Despite its clear benefits, many hospitals struggle to implement or sustain purposeful rounding effectively. The primary challenge lies in the complexity of managing such a continuous process without a reliable system in place. Without a comprehensive SaaS platform, it becomes difficult to monitor and ensure consistency in rounding efforts.

Deploy Effective Technology & Process

Technological solutions are increasingly recognized as pivotal in improving patient experience . For example, a 2023 study by Buettner and Alexander noted that digital platforms can significantly enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of rounding (Buettner & Alexander, 2023). These platforms allow staff to track rounds in real-time, ensuring no patient is overlooked.

This is where Readiness Rounds’ High-Reliability approach comes into play. By providing a robust, sustainable platform that automates and tracks patient experience efforts, Readiness Rounds helps hospitals overcome these challenges. This system not only improves patient safety and satisfaction but also boosts HCAHPS scores, directly impacting profitability.

Takeaway Message 

Hourly or purposeful rounding is not a new concept, but its success hinges on having the right tools in place. The reason many hospitals are unable to implement or sustain this critical practice is the lack of an agreed, sustainable SaaS platform to support what is a complex process. Readiness Rounds’ High-Reliability approach ensures that this effort delivers tangible improvements in patient outcomes, enhances HCAHPS scores, and improves hospital profitability.


 

Ready to see real results?

With high-reliability strategies and real-time data, hospitals see 15.5% higher HCAHPS scores, a 52% drop in safety events, and up to 30% fewer incidents.

Connect with me today to unlock these improvements for your hospital!

👉 Click HERE to schedule a chat.


 

Sources:

  1. Goldsack, J. C., Robinson, E. J., & Kudlak, L. (2020). Nurse-led proactive rounding: Improving patient experience and safety. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(1), 45-51.
  2. Thomas, S. M., Kitchiner, N. J., & Poole, R. (2021). Evaluating the impact of purposeful rounding on patient safety and satisfaction: A systematic review. Nursing Open, 8(6), 2976-2985.
  3. Yowell, S., Hill, B., & Kim, H. (2022). Hourly rounding: Influence on patient outcomes and clinical staff workflow in a hospital setting. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 4, 100056.
  4. Buettner, K., & Alexander, K. (2023). Technological enhancements to purposeful rounding: Leveraging digital platforms for improved patient care. Journal of Healthcare Informatics Research, 7(2), 134-147.

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