Implementing Nursing round to Deal with Unresolved Nursing Problem on Patient with Acute Pain: A Case Report

Introduction

Nurses are a dominant number among the health profession (55-65%), providing constant and continuous 24-hour service to patients and are therefore, the most important human resource in the hospital. ¹ Furthermore, nursing services is a determining factor for improving health services and the quality. ² with methods including professional nursing care model comprised of nursing round. ³ Nursing rounds aim at addressing problems by actively involving patients or families in discussions, and subsequently evaluating the results of actions performed. ⁴ However, very few hospitals employ nursing rounds, ⁵ and this is due to barriers including high workload, time pressure, and lack of knowledge. ⁶

The implementation of regular nursing rounds positively impacted patient satisfaction and promoted the quality of nursing care. ⁷ In additions, nurses grow and become trained through knowledge transfer and application of theoretical concepts to nursing practice. ⁸ Also, the rounds involving direct interaction with patients helps to identify patient needs, conditions and the environment to support recovery and solve problems. ⁹ This becomes an approach to improve cognitive, affective and psychomotor abilities, sensitivity and critical thinking. ⁸ Therefore, awareness on the implementation of nursing rounds and the involvement of managers to optimize nursing care process is necessary. ⁹

This paper aims to shows the use of nursing round to deal with problems in patients, and the effect in improving quality of care. Also, the nurses in this report were able to find methods to address the consultant's assessment and decision with regards to a particular patient, and thereby, prevent an outcome contrary to the patient's safety. This outcome contributes to the emerging critical thinking and discussions, therefore specific recommendations and strategies to improve nursing care is offered to ensure adequate resolution.

Design and Methods

The study design employed was a single case report, while the study methods were exploratory and descriptive. In addition, the nurses working at the hospital were enrolled to perform the nursing round, and the study participation was voluntary, while the patient involved gave the informed consent. The patient's data was presented in an anonymous form to maintain confidentiality. The nursing round procedure employed to resolve the case involved preround, round, and post-round steps (Figure 1).

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Figure 1

Nursing round steps (Adapted from Nursalam, 2020; with permission).

Results and Discussions

The focus case is an excerpt from a nursing round in the ward led by a nurse unit manager. In the preround session, the team leader was assigned to the patient and therefore, principally responsible for care, monitoring the condition, preparation, and review of the care resume including assessment, diagnosis, care plan, implementation and evaluation. In the round session, all the participants comprising the nurse unit manager, team leader, another team leader, nurse consultant, and associate nurses, gathered around in the nurse station. First, the unit manager opened the round, delivered the objectives, and allowed the lead manager to present the case. Subsequently, the team leader presented the information of the patient's condition based on the care resume and highlighted the unresolved problem, and an overview is stated below.

Mr. S (27-year-old) was diagnosed with hydronephrosis post nephrectomy surgery on day-3. The patient complained of persistent pain in the surgery area (right waist) and a gradual increase. Furthermore, there was a drain attached with a minimal output of blood and used urinary catheter. Vital signs: HR 140/80 mmHg, pulse 96 x/min, temperature 36.8°C, respiratory rate 20 x/min, heigh 155 cm and weight 65 kg. Laboratory test results: Leu 19.47x10³μl, Hct 29.3%, Ur 89 mg/dl, Cr 8.30 mg/dl, Alb 3.5. Medications: cefotaxim 3x1g, antrain 3x1g, omeprazole 3x40 mg. The nurse has provided pain relief, but the patient was still suffering pain on a 7/10 scale.

Following the discussion with the team members at the station, the team leader and participants approached the patient's bed. Subsequently, the team was introduced to the patient and family by the leader, and a reassessment of the patient's condition was done to find the problem cause. Furthermore, every team member questioned the patient to gain more information related to the pain. The nurse consultant tried to apply gentle pressure on the area of surgery, and the patient reported increasing pain. The nurse inspected the drain, indicating a minimal output, which was then assumed to be in good condition, due to the absence of severe bleeding. However, the nurse consultant observed the possibility of a blood clot blocking the drain. The team returned to the station and continued the discussion during the post-round. Subsequently, each member argued based on the validation results gained from the bedside assessment. Therefore, the physicians were recommended to evacuate the blood clot in the drain, which ensued smoothly with significantly reduced pain. It also followed by appropriate pain management including pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapy.

Pain is common nursing problem, and expected, after surgery. ¹⁰ Severe or less severe pains may cause any medical manipulation in the body connected with the organ and tissue damage. ¹¹ Inadequately controlled postoperative pain may have harmful physiologic, psychological consequences which potentially increases the morbidity and mortality,^12,13 or it may lead to chronic pain which is often misdiagnosed and neglected.^14,15 In literature about the pain management in postoperational stage prevail unified standpoint that utilization of timely received and appropriate analgesic methods may give optimal analgesic level and positive result of pain management. ¹⁶ Patient reported in this study also has been treated either pharmacological and nonpharmacological pain management. However, it showed no sign of improvement. In this condition, nurse should suspect something else that the patient may be dealing with. if the nurse is difficult to find answers on their own then doing a nursing round is the right way.

It was found there were blood clots inside the patient drainage. Surgical drainage is an important routine operation in surgery to drain fluid out of the body and reduce post-operative fluid collections.^17,18 Inadequate surgical drainage treatment leading to blockage may result infection, worsening inflammation, slow wound formation, and increase complication. ¹⁹ Therefore, if it is noticed that there is no fluid in the bulb, check the tubing for a possible blockage caused by a clot and then evacuate them.

Nursing round is an effective strategy to initiate several changes including an improvement in communication and interactions among nurse teams in discussing patient's clinical problems. ²⁰ Also, this is useful in developing clinical practice, evidence-based care, and understanding of the condition being experienced. The autonomy of nurses is therefore increased, leading to enhancement in the job satisfaction. ²¹ Through this, nurses are involved in decision making, professional relationships with other health services, and employ evidence-based care to increase nurses’ perceptions of the practice environment as a setting for professional nursing practice. ²² The previous research carried out on the perception of Intensive Care nurses using nursing rounds as a care method for trauma patients influences nursing and medical management, and wound care. ²³ Moreover, knowledge and attitude also plays an important role during implementation. ²⁴ Previous findings revealed the impact of nursing rounds on performance in providing care. ²⁵ This skill is increased by significant training, which facilitates optimized output.

Conclusions

The result indicates the resolution of problems associated with acute pain. Patient still expressed of persistent pain in the surgery area after three days of treatment. Through nursing round, nurses indicate that the drain has stopped draining because of the formation of blood clots in the tubing. Nurses discussed this case and recommended appropriate action and the problem was solved. This proves the effectiveness of nursing rounds in enhancing the care outcome, and indirectly showed an increase in quality of services. Therefore, management commitment is highly significant in optimizing nursing rounds.