Published April 09, 2026
Physicians and nurses round on their patients, but at Westerly Hospital they’re making it standard practice, at least once a day, to round together.
It might seem like a small change, but those involved in this new initiative believe that, over time, the subtle shift may enhance patient outcomes, reduce length of stay and improve patient satisfaction.
“So far, it’s really enhanced communication for the team,” said Terasa Antoch, RN, nurse manager, Med/Surg unit.
Paula Watts-Wojcik, DO, associate medical director for Hospitalist Services at Westerly Hospital, is a leading advocate. “Studies have shown that this approach, with at least a nurse and a physician simultaneously at the bedside, can improve the entire course of the hospital experience for the patient,” she said. “There is a lack of consistent definition for interdisciplinary bedside rounding, and it can include numerous members of the care team. For Westerly Hospital we are honing in on the physician-nurse collaboration.”
Physician-nurse rounding can be beneficial in numerous scenarios. A patient, for example, may feel more engaged in their care if they see a physician and a nurse together at the bedside; there is less chance of a misunderstanding or a communication breakdown if everyone is hearing the same thing at the same time; and patient questions can be addressed in real time, preventing delays or misinterpretations.
“It’s very helpful,” said Ian Chapelle-Conklin, RN, who rounds regularly with Dr. Watts-Wojcik. “Communication can be challenging in the hospital environment. Patients sometimes feel as though decisions are going on behind the scenes. It’s important for the patient’s mental well-being to be directly involved.”
Overall, “It’s a great way to demonstrate that we all have a common goal, which is to help the patient improve and ultimately to get them back home,” Chapelle-Conklin added. “If there are any issues, the patient can see that we’re working on them together. It’s great for the patient’s family, too.”
Antoch noted that her team is documenting their success and hoping to submit an abstract at this year’s Janet Parkosewich Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Conference in April. “If we can show improvement, especially in our patient experience scores for nurse-provider communication and teamwork, then we want to share this with our system colleagues.”
