Grand Rounds has long been a methodology used in medicine to educate upcoming students and present unique or complex cases to multidisciplinary groups. Historically, a junior student would prepare a presentation of the history and physical condition of the patient, diagnoses, and current treatments and a discussion would ensue about the next steps for the patient. Nursing Grand Rounds (NGR) appeared in the literature first in 1964 (Mercandante & Ross) with very few publications after that until the early 2000s. There was a resurgence of NGR in the literature in the early 2000s as a means to increase professional development, continuing education, and nursing engagement. NGR has now evolved as a forum for promoting nursing excellence and recognizing the unique contributions nurses make to patients and healthcare as an industry. Topics can include specific cases, pathophysiology, quality improvement projects, evidence-based practice changes, research, self-care topics, and practices that advance the profession of nursing. Regardless of the topic, it is clear that NGR provides an opportunity to network with colleagues, continue education, and implement new practices in specialty care. It is my pleasure to announce that UAMS will begin offering monthly Nursing Grand Rounds in October.
The UAMS Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Council (comprised of APRNs, CRNAs, CNMs, and PAs) expressed a desire to host grand rounds for nursing with the goal of providing a platform for nursing scholarship and advancing nursing practice. Britney Beumeler, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, Inpatient Trauma Nurse Practitioner, and Traci Motes, MNSc, APRN, CCRN, AGACNP-BC, Ortho/Infectious Disease Nurse Practitioner, approached the Center for Nursing Excellence and Trenda Ray, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, about the possibility of starting NGR at UAMS. After meeting to discuss and review details, the Center for Nursing Excellence worked with the UAMS Office of Continuing Education to offer continuing education units (CEUs) for the recurring series, Nursing Grand Rounds. The APP Council will be bringing exciting speakers about various topics and the series will be offered virtual and in-person. The first Nursing Grand Rounds will be on October 4, from noon through 1 p.m., in the Active Learning Center on the 1st floor of the library. Dr. Neal Reeves from the College of Nursing will be presenting, Branding Ourselves as Nurses.
Britany shared the passion behind the idea for nursing grand rounds – “we are excited to bring nursing grand rounds to UAMS as a way to engage staff and learn from our peers who are experts in their field. We hope this inspires nurses to share knowledge and experiences that encourage formal presentations and publications.”
Anyone may attend Nursing Grand Rounds, but to receive CEU credit, you must create an account in CloudCME. While attending, you will pair your phone with your CloudCME account and text an attendance code to the UAMS Office of Continuing Education. Your CloudCME account will track your attendance and transcript for you. The Center for Nursing Excellence will also offer post-attendance feedback opportunities so we can plan sessions that you are interested in. Have a presentation you want to share at Nursing Grand Rounds? Email CenterforNursingExcellence@uams.edu to get on the schedule!