Rounds
Throughout the day, various people go round the unit to check on the progress of the patients. The head nurse or the deputy head nurse usually make a round early in the morning (between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.). The head nurse’s comments are important to the physician in charge, and it is the nurse’s responsibility to pass on all the information to the physician or the resident.
The head nurse also draws up a list of problems on which to base the plan for the day and assigns jobs to various members of the team in the nursing unit.
During the morning, one or more of the resident physicians will visit you to see how you are, correlate your progress with the information collected by the nursing staff, and discuss any changes in your condition. The resident is also there to answer any questions you may have, although you should remember that the ultimate authority rests with the physician in charge of your case.
The physicians are not encouraged to discuss the case in front of the patient. For somebody with no medical background, it is alarming to hear a group of physicians discussing possibilities, because, even if the patient does not understand the terms the physicians use, some of the words may sound threatening. If, however, you are worried by a remark made between physicians, you should promptly ask for clarification.
The physician in charge of your case may make his or her own visit at any time of the day depending on his or her schedule. It is a good idea to ask for an estimate of when the visit might be, so that you do not become unnecessarily anxious. Your physician’s visit is the most important one for you because all of the important decisions are made by him or her. Try to organize your questions beforehand so that the time may be used with maximum efficiency.
