A: As a nurse, it’s important to keep your
hospitalized patients safe and comfortable.
Many facilities stress hourly rounds with
the four “P’s”: pain, potty, positioning, and
possessions. A quick additional visual sur-
vey of the patient and surroundings can help
you assess the patient’s situation and antici-
pate his or her needs. This can also help you
become more confi dent with identifying and
rectifying potential problems before they
arise. Are you ready to leave the bedside?
Ask yourself if it’s time to SIT DOWN.
S: Take a quick look at the side rails on the
bed. Are they up or down as appropriate
for this patient?
I: If your patient has an I.V. running, glance
at the bag to make sure the correct fl uids
are infusing. Also, look at the volume left in
the bag. Make a note if you’ll need to hang
a new bag with your next rounds. Take a
look at the pump to check that it’s set at
the correct rate. Is a secondary solution, or
piggyback, hanging? If so, is it set up cor-
rectly, and when will the infusion be com-
plete? Even if the patient only has a heparin
lock, glance at it to ensure that it’s in place