Conclusion

Nurses and the multidisciplinary team are central to ward rounds. Although this article has attempted to define the core nursing activities involved in ward rounds, nurses will delegate and/or lead the actions that arise. The energy created by a well-run ward round will resonate across a whole ward team, while a rushed round or one that has no nurse presence will have a negative effect, such that related actions maybe fragmented.

In busy ward environments it is a constant balancing act to prioritize the jobs that need to be done within the ward routine; if, however, nurses lead by example and are present on ward rounds, it is likely that discipline will be instilled in the entire team and an expected standard of practice for this core activity created.